Abaca Rugs

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Design Characteristics

Part of the banana family, the abaca plant is native to the Philippines and produces the strongest of all natural fibers. Merida's abaca rugs are 100% biodegradable and come in a dramatic range of all-natural colors and distinctive designs.

Our abaca rugs are the result of a collaborative partnership between Merida designers and Filipino craftspeople. The boldly textured weave structures bring out the strength and beauty of the fiber while highlighting the exquisite yarn-spinning and handcrafted weaving techniques.

Sustainability
A sustainable and rapidly renewable fiber, abaca has an initial growth period of 18 to 25 months and can be harvested every three to eight months. The plant lives for about 10 years and requires minimal human intervention (e.g. plowing, fertilizing) to remain healthy and productive.

We use no dyes or backing material in our abaca rugs, so they are completely natural. At the end of your abaca rug's useful lifetime, you can simply chop it up in your yard for compost or fertilizer.

The fiber in out abaca rugs comes from several different regions of the Philippines, where many communities rely on abaca for their livelihood. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we work with a cooperative that manages the plantations supplying our abaca to:

  • Promote responsible business practices.
  • Support social and economic growth.
  • Minimize our environmental impact.

Cultivation & Fiber Extraction
Humid, tropical conditions and wet, volcanic soils make the Philippines' climate ideal for growing abaca. Ribbons of fibers up to 15 feet long are extracted by hand, separated from the layers of pulp, and thoroughly washed and dried before being handwoven into our abaca rugs.

Abaca fibers vary widely in color, from dark browns and purples in the outer layers to yellow and white fibers in the plant's core. The outer layers produce the strongest fibers, while the inner layers produce very fine, consistent fibers. The natural range of colors and textures gives abaca an innate beauty all its own.