FRUTFIBER™

Cotton is the world’s most popular natural fiber—but our over-reliance on it is problematic. Traditional methods of cotton cultivation are water-intensive, and often rely on pesticides and fertilizers which can destroy local biodiversity and soil health. The reliance on one singular output, like cotton, also encourages the practice of monocropping. Monoculture plantations (monocropping) weaken the soil, depleting its nutrients and can lead to desertification.

Plant fibers are renewable and inherently biodegradable. (In their natural form, their biodegradation potential can change depending on the level of treatments and processes applied to the end product throughout manufacturing.) By using production waste from the fruit industry, like leaves, that would otherwise be discarded, as well as abundant and fast-growing plants, we not only help by offering alternative solutions to traditional cotton but also contribute to the restoration of the soils that sequester carbon.

We're diversifying our range of cellulose-based materials to help address the problems linked to the world’s over-reliance on cotton. FRUTFIBER™ repurposes food waste, turning banana leaf fiber, pineapple leaf fiber and bamboo into a new, innovative fabric that feels and drapes just like cotton, but with no cotton used at all.

FRUTFIBER™ is a blend of bamboo lyocell combined with pineapple leaf and banana leaf fibers—two natural materials that are usually considered agricultural waste.

Pineapple leaf and banana leaf fibers:

The natural fibers from the pineapple and banana leaves are by-products of the food industry. After the fruits are harvested, these fibrous leaves are typically thrown in landfill or burned, which can harm local ecosystems.

Bamboo: 

A fast-growing, non-food crop that also doesn’t require pesticides or fertilizers or additional water other than what occurs naturally. Our bamboo lyocell is made in a closed-loop production system that reuses solvents while saving water and energy.