September 18, 2025

Nelson Yang, founder and general manager of Farm to Material, is stirring up a banana revolution in Taiwan! At the company's facility in Changhua, Taiwan, Yang is turning the often-ignored banana pseudostems—the thick middle part of the banana plant—into lively fibers ready to be woven into textiles. Taiwan might be famous for its cutting-edge semiconductor industry today, but once, it proudly wore the title of the "banana kingdom". Bananas were once a symbol of Taiwan's strength and pride during the early 20th century. Now, Nelson Yang is breathing new life into this humble fruit, but not for eating—he’s creating future fashion! "Back in 2008, European (sneaker) brands told us that they were hoping to find a way for food and materials to be produced in parallel, meaning that food and materials are yielded from the same land," said Yang. This shining idea drives Farm to Material. They transform leftover banana plant parts, which would normally be thrown away by farmers, into useful fibers without stealing land from food production. The fibers are crushed, dried, and spun into yarn that can mix with cotton for crafting comfy socks or even turn into vegan leather. Though still a young business, Farm to Material dreams big—to dress global sneaker brands in green, guilt-free style! Charlotte Chiang, director of innovation and sustainable design at the Taiwan Textile Federation, praised banana fiber’s potential: "Banana fibre actually performs better than regular cotton in terms of water consumption, absorbency, and supply stability, making it highly promising for future applications." She added, "Banana fibre could become a new highlight for Taiwan in the field of biomass fibre in the textiles industry." Could banana fiber be Taiwan’s next big export after tech? Farmers might soon see waste turn to wealth, as the waste banana pseudostems get a fantastic second life. From tropical fields to trendy feet, Taiwan’s banana fiber saga is just beginning—and it’s looking deliciously vibrant and green!

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Tags: Banana fiber, Sustainable textiles, Taiwan, Farm to material, Biomass, Sneaker brands,