Facile Extraction of Bashofu Fibers

Abstract

  Bashofu is a traditional summer textile of Okinawa, fibers of which are derived from leaf sheaths of the Itobasho plant. Coarse Bashofu was used to make working clothes for the general population in their daily lives. However, premium Bashofu for summer kimono is still produced from high-quality materials by artisans following sophisticated traditional procedures.

  In this study, we extracted Bashofu fibers from low-quality materials that are not used for premium textiles through a simple method. The conditions used in this study were reviewed in reference to historical records.

  Furthermore, the fibers were observed using microscopes. Due to their twisted and thick morphology, the fibers were lower in quality compared to those used for the premium Bashofu. However, with further improvements, our fibers may lead to the development of novel environmentally friendly materials for hot climates, given the fact that even low-quality Bashofu fibers were historically used by ordinary Okinawans.