Suho Paper Museum unveils wearable abaca paper textiles in Taipei
台北樹火紀念紙博物館推出可穿戴的蕉麻紙紡織品
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Suho Memorial Paper Museum in Taipei is celebrating its 30th anniversary with the special exhibition, "Re/Rooting— Suho 30 · The Future is Ancestral," curated by Fenko Catalysis Chamber.
The display showcases Taiwan’s success in transforming the ancient natural fiber, abaca (Musa textilis), into wearable and washable paper yarn and textiles using advanced technology, featuring items from global brands like Balenciaga, COS, and Gervasoni. Established in 1995, the museum marks its 30th year by returning to its origins, re-examining the lineage, craftsmanship, and spirit of paper craft to revitalize historical values for modern life. This sets a new direction for the next three decades. The exhibition is curated by Lino Li (李依耘), the museum’s third-generation heir and Fenko Catalysis Chambero founder, across the museum's newly renovated first and second floors. The core narrative revolves around the natural fiber abaca. Dubbed the “gold of fibers,” abaca has been crucial since the 16th century for maritime use, such as ropes, sails, and fishing nets, and remains hidden today within products like banknotes, tea bags, and industrial filter papers. Li noted that through Taiwan’s washi paper craftsmanship, abaca fiber is processed via papermaking, slitting, and twisting. This makes Taiwan one of the very few places in Asia to achieve the scaled application of Abaca in the paper yarn field — a pivotal meeting point between tradition and innovation. The process requires no chemical additives, relying on abaca's inherent toughness. The resulting high-strength yarn overturns the perception of paper, transforming it from a flat writing medium into a tactile, washable, and wearable material for clothing and everyday goods, said Li. Abaca grows quickly without pesticides. Its textiles boast exceptional sustainability: after its life cycle, the fabric can achieve a decomposition rate of 96% within 50 days to six months, dissolving into the soil as organic fertilizer. Tested properties include sustained natural antibacterial effects, deodorizing properties, UV protection, and being strong yet soft and fully biodegradable, addressing contemporary demands for comfort and high functionality. Abaca paper yarn's outstanding performance has already attracted major international brands, with Balenciaga first experimenting with 100% abaca paper yarn for the upper of its iconic Triple S sneaker. Additionally, COS developed a shirt made with 73% abaca paper yarn, and the Italian furniture brand Gervasoni uses a fabric containing over 40% Abaca paper yarn for the cover of its classic Ghost 05 sofa. The exhibit also features daily-wear items like socks worn by Japanese astronaut Yamazaki Naoko in space, infant textiles, and undergarments. |
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| Lyla Liu Taiwan News, Staff Reporter | |
| 2025-10-27 |
