What began as a local project where fibers processed from banana and plantain trees were handcrafted into artisan products has become a budding Belize Banana Fiber business. It has evolved into a new, all-Belizean art form that creates income for Belizean families.
Banana Fibers originally started in 2019 by missionaries in the Cayo district. They were first challenged with extracting fiber from the banana plant’s pseudo stems, or trunk, which is a tightly packed bundle of overlapping leaf sheaths.
Finding the right machinery to do so proved challenging, especially if they acquired something costly and complicated to repair, should it break down. Thanks to Humberto Chulin’s ingenuity, a resident of San Jose Succotz, he crafted a machine with parts available in the country. The Eco-Gater proved to be the perfect machinery for the job. By the time the COVID-19 pandemic hit Belize in March 2020, they had two machines, and it was time to get serious with the business. Banana Fiber started on June 1, 2021, to provide jobs for artisans working from their homes. As a new medium, workshops were offered, and many people responded and wanted to learn. Training programs on how to craft products from the fibers were held, and those who completed the sessions received a certification. Over time, artisans started to work and weave, later creating baskets, mirrors, lamps, rugs, etc.
In September 2024, Leisa Carr-Caceres from Banana Bank Lodge acquired the business. A savvy entrepreneur and artist, she felt investing in a banana fiber business was destiny. “We’ve worked with about thirty artisans altogether. It’s really been a great journey meeting all of them, learning from them as well…and now my creative genes also get to exercise, like OK, what else can we do? My hope is to combine this with my stained glass, especially for the lamps,” she exclaimed.
The entire process, from banana plant to fiber, is arduous. Carr-Caceres explains, “After the fruit is harvested, the banana pseudo stems are brought to our workshop where we split the stems and peel them into slices. The slices are fed through the Eco-Gator, which crushes out the liquid and leaves only the fiber strings. Then we sundry the fiber, boil it to eliminate bacteria, and sundry it again. When the fiber is dry, we distribute it to our artisans who twist fibers into strands of various girths for weaving.”
The artisans are mainly in the villages of Buena Vista, Hill View, Benque, Arenal, Spanish Lookout, Unitedville, Belmopan, and throughout the Cayo District. A collective of about thirty artisans are certified to work with banana fibers.
“We offer workshops and a certification program so artisans can achieve the qualifications and knowledge necessary to manipulate the fiber correctly. It is not just knowing how to weave but also being able to dye the fiber and sort different fiber qualities for various purposes to achieve quality assurance. Banana fiber is the mahogany of fibers, meaning it can be used in many ways. It is softer than other fibers yet as strong when properly worked. Our workshops highlight specific skills. Those who complete the workshop get a certificate. We have beginner and advanced workshops, and our artisans are primarily women supporting their families. Each artist has their own level of expertise. We intend to continue to foster artisans and bring them to an artistic level for banana fibers,” Carr-Caceres tells us.
Belize Banana Fibers’ future looks bright, with a growing demand for its artisan products. To see their products, please visit their showroom at Banana Bank Lodge. Other vendor locations include Chillpoint and Sirenian Bay in Placencia, GariMaya in Hopkins, and Spanish Lookout Gallery and Gifts.
You can also order online at http://www.belizebananafibers.com and find them on Facebook. For more information, contact [email protected] or phone/WhatsApp at 664-6551.
