Sisal Rugs Insight

One of the most important agricultural products of the world's tropical regions is sisal fiber obtained from the Agave plant. The genus Agave has many species most of which produce fiber, but the vast majority of commercial quality sisal is from Agave Sisalana. Agave is indigenous to Central America and the southernmost part of North America where its cultivation began on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. In Mexico and the Southwestern United States there are over fifty species of Agave. Other common names for plants in this genus are henequen, maguey, century plant, and American aloe.

Agave thrives in tropical, semiarid regions. Over half the sisal fiber produced in the world comes from East Africa -- Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique -- where plantations devoted to Agave sisalana were established at the turn of the twentieth century. In this area sisal is the major coarse fiber industry, contributing significantly to the economy of these countries. Most of Merida Meridian's sisal comes from Kenya and Tanzania; the balance is from Brazil. Agave sisalana is a squat plant with long, knife- shaped leaves that form a rosette close to the ground. These fleshy, rigid leaves, from which the sisal fiber is derived, are usually grayish-green to dark green. The fiber within is coarse, long and extremely strong. Its color is usually creamy white to a pale yellow, but some sisal can have a reddish cast. The process of separating the fleshy outside of the leaves from the fibers on the inside is an arduous one. First the leaves are crushed and scraped, then the fiber is washed thoroughly, further separating the waste pulp from the fiber. This is called decortication. In many places this is now done by machine. Next the fiber is graded and sorted, then either hung in the sun to dry or put into a drying machine.

Then the fibers are beaten or brushed to soften and separate them and to remove any traces of dried leaf tissue. There is a 95% loss in weight from the beginning to the end of this process. One hundred pounds of leaves yields only five pounds of sisal fiber. It is generally agreed that the world's highest quality sisal - the longest, finest, and whitest fiber - comes from the plantations of East Africa. After pro- cessing, Merida's African sisal is shipped to Belgium where it is dyed, spun using the specialized Katani Bora sisal yarn spinning system, then woven into broadloom on modern power looms. Sisal is an enormously versatile material that we use to weave boucles and rib weaves, flat weaves, and jacquard patterns in natural and many dyed colors. We also produce floor coverings that combine the strength and stability of sisal with other fibers, especially coir and wool. Sisal carpets are naturally sound absorbing, anti- static, and extremely durable because of the inherent qualities of this tough, hard wearing fiber. It is also naturally insulating and difficult to ignite. Like most plant fibers, however, sisal absorbs moisture readily, therefore we recommend that these materials be used only indoors, in dry areas of a home or office. As with all natural fiber floor coverings, regular vacuuming of the surface is important in keeping a sisal carpet clean. Blot spills immediately with a clean towel and continue to blot until most of the liquid is removed. Complete the drying process with a hair dryer or a commercial product designed to absorb moisture. Never steam clean or wet shampoo your sisal carpet.