Jute cultivation and Process

July 16, 2013

Jute cultivation and Process


www.himane.com

I love Jute materials or Burlap, because of their natural beauty and many ways they have been and can be used. I have been so passionate (way before my love for recycling umbrella started) about this material it is unbelievable.
Not too far from my studio, there is a coffee factory doing import/export, so I have been going there for the past 2 years to purchase their recycled coffee Jute bags so I can Upcycled into beautiful one of a kind bags that I combined with the umbrellas, Organic canvas and/or upholstery materials.(pics below of HIMANE "REFAIT" Bags)

www.himane.com

So of course I have been very curious on how this great fabric is made and also needed to know about the history.
This is what I found out so far. Enjoy!

Introduction.

The material commonly called burlap in the United States is known as "hessian" in parts of Europe because it was used in the uniform of soldiers from the state of Hesse.

What is it?

The course texture of burlap comes from the fact it is made from the skin of the jute plant, one of the least expensive textile crops in the world--and one of the strongest. Jute fibers have a high content of cellulose, a major component of plant stalks, as well as lignin, a constituent of wood. The result is a textile fiber that is part cloth and part wood, heat resistant, easy to dye and very strong. Jute cultivation requires standing water, so most production comes from Bangladesh and Indian regions that benefit from a heavy monsoon season. After cotton, it is the second most important vegetable fiber in the world.

Applications
As it turns out, jute is a very versatile material. The lining component makes for an itchy material if used for clothing, but when separated into very fine threads, has been used to make imitation silk. The tensile strength and low cost of jute fiber make it ideal for industrial applications. The fact that it's entirely natural and biodegradable makes it a popular choice for uses where these qualities are desirable, such as in covering and binding plant roots for transportation and replanting, or to prevent erosion.

I found so much info that I would not be able to post everything at once.
Please by all means click on the links below to learn more if of course you did not. Thank you and happy reading.

A few pics of the materials of the drying process and more.