Sustainable fashion innovation using banana fabric: A review of eco friendly surface ornamentation techniques in Indo Western apparel

Abstract

The global textile and fashion sector faces increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, driven by resource intensive manufacturing, toxic chemical processing, and mounting textile waste. Sustainable fashion has therefore emerged as a critical domain, emphasizing eco friendly materials, circular production models, and zero waste strategies. Among natural alternatives, banana fibre has gained attention due to its biodegradability, renewability, and ability to transform agricultural waste into high value textiles. This review evaluates the viability of banana fibre fabric in sustainable fashion, with a focus on Indo Western apparel design. Indo Western fashion, characterized by the fusion of traditional Indian aesthetics and contemporary Western silhouettes, provides a dynamic platform for integrating sustainable textiles with creative ornamentation. Three artisanal techniques—patchwork, fabric painting, and embroidery—are examined for their role in enhancing the visual quality, cultural relevance, and commercial value of banana fibre garments. Findings reveal that patchwork advances waste free design by utilizing remnants, fabric painting enables eco conscious artistic expression, and embroidery preserves heritage craftsmanship while elevating garment identity. Integrating these techniques with banana fibre reinforces circular fashion practices and supports indigenous textile traditions. The study concludes that banana fibre fabric holds substantial promise as a sustainable alternative, though challenges of scalability, processing, and market awareness must be addressed for wider adoption