What Is Abaca Fabric? Buyers Guide & Reviews
There are several natural fibers found in exotic and tropical places of the world that aren’t as well-known as cotton, bamboo, linen, silk, and wool. The quality of these fibers is on par with that of the more well-known brands.
Abaca is a type of fabric. One of the most common fibers used in traditional Filipino and certain Indonesian textiles are made from an abaca plant that grows in the Philippines and other parts of Indonesia. For tea bags and paper, these fibers are the finest choice. They can be turned into denim and are long-lasting.
To learn more about the abaca plant and its uses, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know in order to use this fabric to its fullest potential. Discover this wonderful plant and fabric for a few minutes.
Contents
What is Abaca Fabric?
As the fibers come from the abaca plant, which grows in South East Asia’s tropics, this is a tropical fabric. It has a high tensile strength and is quite durable. A fabric robust enough to be used to make denim.
Fabric made from these fibers is extremely malleable and can be formed into about any shape you can imagine. As a lightweight material, you should be able to move this fabric around with ease because it doesn’t have an odor.
This material is extremely biodegradable and environmentally friendly. As an added bonus, this can be used in salt water, if necessary. While the fabric’s color range appears to be confined to a pale beige, this piece is nonetheless visually appealing.
Abaca Fabric Place of Origin
Good natural fibers aren’t always found in the usual suspects like the U.S.A., Europe, or even New Zealand or China. Exotic plants found in lesser-known areas around the world can be readily transformed into beautiful textiles.
The abaca fabric falls within this category. Rope can be made from this strong fiber, which is native to the Philippines. Then, it can also be found in East Indonesian cultivated regions, but its primary home is the Philippines, where it was first discovered.
For more than three centuries, the Philippines was the world’s leading exporter of this plant, which is why other countries may start producing it for economic purposes.
As much as three meters of the fibers can be extracted before they become unusable due to their laborious nature, though. The effort to retrieve these fibers is worth it because the fabric is very versatile as well as being high in quality.
Silk Abaca Fabric Clothes
Bananas are a close relative of this species of plant. Despite its banana-like appearance, the fruit of this plant is really loaded with seeds. You get a fabric that is luxurious to the touch, but not as delicate as 100% silk garments, when you combine the fibers of this plant with the silk.
Sarees, kimonos, and tablecloths are all made from this unique blend, which can be twisted and moulded into virtually any shape. It’s a terrific material for creating beautiful curves.
The good news is that dyeing abaca silk is not harmful. Using this material, especially when making a hat, creates a unique look. In contrast to other materials, the sheen is what sets it apart.
Using this blend of fibers, you may reach a level of intricacy that you may not have been able to with other materials.
Abaca Fabric Price and Suppliers
If you absolutely want to work with this cloth, there are numerous wholesalers to choose from. You’ll have to get in touch with a number of wholesalers to find out the cost, as pricing are only available upon request. These prices are based on large wholesale orders, so keep that in mind.
The silk abaca sells for $23.50 per yard, which may be in Australian dollars given the URL of the company selling the fabric. A minimum order of 6000 rolls is required for Alibaba to link you with multiple vendors, however you should expect to pay between $1 and $3 per roll at wholesale prices.
There was material on Etsy for $7.75, but you should check with your local businesses to see what they have to offer. Even abaca denim can be expensive to have in stock, so they may or may not have it.
Where Can I Buy Abaca Fabric by the Yard?
Unfortunately, Amazon no longer has the item in stock, making it difficult to obtain. For a 10-yard roll, you should expect to pay roughly $23 for it. Fabric.com was recommended by one website, and it may be true, but we were unable to verify this because so many other retailers appeared before them.
It’s possible to find this type of fabric on Etsy, where the price can run as high as $30 per yard. Hat material suppliers are available online if you want to make hats out of this material. It’s on sale for $40 per yard at one store, down from $50.
Some Final Words
It’s not a waste of time to travel to the tropics to procure some durable materials. Abaca plant fibers are robust enough to compete with cotton denim for jeans.
Rumor has claimed that the Philippine government makes money off of this waste by turning it into paper. The same can be said for Japan, thanks to the long-lasting quality of this cloth. To put it another way, if you use this material in your outfit it will last longer.