JUTE FIBER
If you are looking to wear economically sustainable cloths or use sustainable products that last long and is affordable, then Jute is the Place to turn to. Jute, also Known as the golden fiber is set to be the most economical vegetable fiber after cotton and is harder than other textile fibers. This can be simply used for thread for a form of clothing or in a rawer form thread, sacking, burlap and twine as a backing material for tufted carpets. But as time evolved traditional jute craftsmen in Sri Lanka have found new ways to embed this onto new things additionally to the long lasting traditional products.
You might be curious as to how this economical fiber is being made and extracted and here’s how. The jute fiber comes from the stem and ribbon of the jute plant then fibers are first extracted by retting. Soaking process consists of bundling jute stems together and immersing them in slow running water. After the soaking process the stripping process begins. Originally this fiber is in Ivory color and people use some natural coloring in the finalizing process to manufacture some colorful items.
But unlike no other country Sri Lanka has found many ways to perfect the jute industry and has gone beyond just making clothes. The incredibly talented craftsmen construct extremely sustainable products such as jute bags, table mats, wall hangers, ornaments and jewelry while managing to add some of Sri Lankas most traditional designs onto them. Jute products are most popularly known for its substitute use for plastic and other artificial materials. People in our modern day prefer to use the jute bag rather than using the plastic that is given from the grocery store. It is most useful as you can use this bag repeatedly unlike normal plastic bags which pollute the environment. A new tradition of fashion has also begin with natural jewelries and jute fiber jewelries has an unique value on that.
One of the most known and most used products which come from long traditional use are the jute Matts. They were used by elders in the olden days to sleep or lie down on and in present it is been used as wall hanger in tourist hotels & luxuries houses. “Dumbara Designs” are the most common designs used for this mat while various Sri Lankan traditional designs have been imbedded on them as well.
Sri Lanka has many visitors and they seek to find unique things to take back with them to remember this beautiful country and one of the most sought out tourist momentum choices to bring back with them would be “Dumbara Designs”. It is a form of matt that is hand weaved with this golden fiber. It is named after its place and takes many forms such as table cloths, napkins, wall hangings each imbedded with a traditional design.
There are many advantages when it comes to using the jute fiber in products. Unlike most materials used in our present-day people are now moving more towards the use of sustainable products. Their products being more eco friendly and durable have come to be more important than using high chemical induced artificial products. And the jute fiber represents just that. It is 100% bio degradable so it is an environmentally friendly fiber quite like cotton. It also happens to be cheap in the market making it affordable to all. And that is why still to this day people continue to keep using this extremely sustainable, useful and colorful fiber in their day to day lives and people who loves to use an uncommon designs this gives you a unique option.