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Old 06-26-2008
kirti s kirti s is offline
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Dear Sir

The tree is harvested and cut into small sections so that it can undergo a softening process. The raw material is then processed by machine to extract the fibrous material. Once the raw fibers are separated, they are bleached to give a more uniform color. Upon completion of this process, they are dried and packed into bales for shipment to the Kathmandu valley, where they are dyed and spun into yarns for rug weaving. The banana rugs under go the same weaving process as the Nepalese hand-knotted woolen rugs.
The unique quality of the banana rug is that it has a look and feel that is very similar to silk but with a loose, casual feel that is not as refined as silk. The durability of the banana fiber is similar to that of silk or nettle and is not recommended for high traffic areas. The actual weight of the fiber is greater that that of wool and it is best when woven in the 100-knot version. Since it is similar to silk, it has a very luxurious quality that makes it feel expensive while being considerably less expensive that silk.

Regards

Kirti
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