QWSTION develops t-shirt made from banana fibers

The Zurich-based design studio QWSTION has developed a prototype of a t-shirt made from Bananatex. As part of its “T-Shirt of Tomorrow” pilot project, the company is looking for 100 “curious minds” to test out the t-shirt made on the basis of fibers obtained from the Abacá banana plant, further details of which can be found in a press release. The volunteers will be encouraged to share their experiences in wearing the garment.

Test subjects will be encouraged to provide feedback with the aim of improving the final design. In 2024, the t-shirt should then be launched on the market - “hopefully with a great future”. The company plans to develop an iconic product and will not settle for anything less.

The textile consists of 100 percent recyclable Bananatex, a material developed by QWSTION on the basis of Abacá banana fibers. All component parts of the t-shirt, including the sewing thread and tag, are chemical-free and undyed.

According to the press release, Abacá bananas grow in a natural ecosystem without irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. In contrast to textiles made from plastic, Bananatex extracts CO2 from the atmosphere and is therefore a climate-positive fabric. At the end of its useful life, Bananatex is compostable and therefore fully regenerative. As such, it has been awarded the Cradle to Cradle certification.

QWSTION has been making bags on the basis of plant-fibers since 2008. In 2018, the design collective launched Bananatex on the market and has made it openly available to other companies. The press release explains further that leading brands are now using Bananatex to manufacture furniture, bags and shoes. QWSTION has won several design awards, most recently the 2021 German Sustainability Award in the Design category. ce/ko