Hualien Xinshe Banana Fiber Weaving Composes a New Chapter for the Kavalan People

By Yang Shengping, Editorial Department, MOOK Travel Life Network
 
A while back, I attended a “ramie weaving course” during a tribal workshop in Fengbin, Hualien, where I learned alongside the local children from tribal elders. That’s when I realized just how intricate and time-consuming traditional weaving techniques can be. However, many people are still dedicated to preserving these traditional crafts. Aside from the Catung Tribe in Fengbin, the nearby Xinshe Tribe also has a Xinshe Banana Fiber Workshop that promotes traditional weaving.

Upon arriving at the banana fiber workshop, two elderly women were seen outside the entrance processing banana fibers—one was twisting the strands into long bundles, and the other was separating the fibers. I struck up a casual chat with one of them. She spoke to me in very standard Taiwanese Hokkien, though my Hokkien isn’t great. Communicating with a mix of Hokkien and Mandarin worked out fine, and I could tell from her Mandarin accent that she is an Indigenous person.

Walking into the first floor of the workshop, I saw several workers—mostly seniors—busy weaving banana fibers using a variety of tools. It felt reminiscent of the old days of family-run piecework. Photography was not allowed inside, likely to protect their proprietary craftsmanship. “Hurry up, you’re a young one,” one of the busy aunties teased me with a smile, noticing my tourist-like expression. Soon after, another lady approached and said, “Come on, I’ll take you up to the exhibition room.”

The second-floor exhibition hall displays finished banana fiber woven products. Artistic design materials made from banana fiber fabric are available for sale, as well as modern items like smartphone cases and small accessories for everyday use. There’s even banana fiber paper brought in through a collaboration with PuLi’s Guangxing Paper Mill. And much like the creations found in “Paper Box King” exhibits, there are “banana fiber lamps” that instantly caught my eye. I asked, “Is this for sale?” Unfortunately, due to high material consumption and complex production, they aren’t available for purchase. All products here are handmade, offering a rich tactile feel. Compared to the trendy, mass-produced designs common today, the banana fiber creations are simple, elegant, unique, and carry a nostalgic charm.

One corner of the exhibition hall also introduces the steps involved in banana fiber weaving. Aside from using banana fiber as the raw material, the process is roughly similar to ramie weaving—ranging from material pre-treatment, thread organization, bundling, to weaving. The process is quite elaborate. “Our place (the banana fiber workshop) has been around for over ten years…” the lady explained. The workshop only began selling products to the public in recent years, focusing mainly on promoting banana fiber weaving and cultural heritage. Walking through the workshop, all the hardworking aunties and elders were warm and friendly, making conversation easy.