Abaca
Abaca is used as a raw material for baskets, trays and lampshades. Abaca is a strong natural fiber and is derived from the bark of a banana tree grown on a banana plantation on Java, Indonesia. It takes 9 months for the tree to mature which makes it a quickly renewable resource. A banana tree produces only 1 time its fruits. After one year the tree is cut and replaced. The tree is considered waste, however still useful. The bark is stripped from the tree and given a second life to make baskets and lampshades out of it.
Sustainable & local sourcing
The Abaca or Banana tree is a quickly renewable resource as it matures in 9 months. The material is derived from the bark of a banana tree from banana plantations that need to be cut for new trees to grow. This makes the Abaca fiber actually a waste material since the trees would otherwise be thrown away or burnt. The Abaca fiber is locally sourced as the plantations are located 60 to 120 kilometers from the main quality control workshop on Java, Indonesia. The baskets and lampshades are handcrafted in the surrounding villages at around 20 km distance.
Environmentally friendly production
The entire production process of Abaca fiber is manually executed and has a small footprint on this planet. Abaca is harvested by hand with simple traditional tools. The processing of this material is also manual; The Banana trees are cut and the bark is peeled off, layer by layer. The Abaca fiber that is peeled off, is dried in the sun for 7 days. Once the inner part of the Abaca fiber is separated from the outer part, the material can be manually twisted and shaped into ropes. These ropes are used to craft into baskets or lampshades by hand. The entire production process uses limited to no energy.
Creating job opportunities
The entire sourcing & production process is executed by hand with the support of simple traditional tools. This process creates more job opportunities and income for people in the rural communities where the unemployment and poverty rate is high.
Other Materials & Production
Nature is at the origin of the originalhome collection. To minimize a negative impact on our eco-system we solely use natural, organic, biodegradable, non-toxic and eco-friendly materials and/or materials that would otherwise be considered as waste. The products have been sourced and produced with the lowest environmental impact possible.
