Sisal is a natural fibre extracted from sisal plants of agave cactus family, Agave Sisalana, also known as ‘sisal’. Sisal is most commonly used for fibre production. Agave plants are lasting succulents that grow throughout the year, even on marginal land and in hot and dry areas. It is cultivated in well-organised plantations, mainly in Kenya and Tanzania. Likewise jute, it provides a livelihood to thousands of families, from its cultivation to processing and manufacturing many products. Sisal has stiff fibres traditionally used for producing rope, twine, paper, cloth, and carpets.
Sisal fibre is environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and doesn’t require fertilisers and pesticides in its cultivation as the plant is resilient to disease. Sisal plant lives about 7-10 years, growing around 200-250 usable leaves, each leaf producing 1000 fibres. Because of its long flowering period, sisal is also a valuable forage for honey bees. During processing, sisal produces only organic waste, which is used as fertiliser, cattle feed and as fuel for biogas production.
Sisal fibre body brushes are of a medium bristle category, suitable for dry body brushing and massage but also ideal for use in the shower or bath. Sisal fibre has a golden creamy colour, it is durable, does not absorb water easily, and it is highly resistant to bacterial damage. It is the perfect natural fibre for exfoliation to improve skin tone and condition. Sisal body brushes have durability of maximum 12 months with proper care.
Leaves are cut from each plant every few weeks. After the leaves have been cut, the fibre must be extracted as soon as possible to avoid damage by leaving it to dry. To do so, the leaves are passed through a machine called a decorticator, and pulp scraped away. The process is called decortication.
Water is used in the decortication to wash the fibre and remove any leaf tissue. Wet fibres are spread into wires to leave to dry. Once completely dry, the fibres are brushed to separate them and prepare them for grading according to colour, length, and blemishes. The fibre is then compressed and packed into bales, and wastage converted into biofuel.
Jute is one of nature's strongest vegetable fibres, known as the ‘Golden Fibre’ due to its golden brown colour, silky and lustrous appearance. It also ranks second only to cotton in terms of global production. Jute is environmentally friendly as well as being one of the most affordable fibres. Jute plants are easy to grow, have a high yield per acre and, and unlike cotton, have little need for pesticides and fertilizers. Jute has a low carbon footprint, it is biodegradable, enriches the soil and all parts of the plant can be used.
Jute plants help clean the air. They assimilate three times more carbon dioxide (CO2) than the average tree during growth, converting the CO2 into oxygen. On the opposite, polypropylene, commonly used plastic, produces huge amounts of CO2 during its production.
Jute plant is grown mainly in the eastern part of India and Southern Bangladesh as it requires tropical rainfall and high humidity. Jute cultivation provides employment to millions of people, such as farmers, people dependent on jute cultivation or those working in the manufacturing sector.
Due to its soft, almost silky bristles, our jute dry body brushes are great for first-time users and those with more sensitive skin. Jute body brushes are only used for dry body brushing because the fibre becomes lifeless if wet. The body brushes have durability of maximum 12 months with proper care.
The jute fibre comes from the stem and outer skin of the plant. Jute plant takes nearly three months to grow during the season to a height of between two to four meters long, and fields may be underwater at the time of harvest.
The jute stems are cut and bundled and then kept immersed in slow-running water for "retting" process for a few days until the inner stem and outer skin of the plant get separated - when the fibre comes loose and is ready for stripping from the stalk.
Coconut fibre, also known as coco or coir fibre (used on handles of ELYTRUM brushes), is found between the hard inner shell and the outer coat (husk) of a coconut. It is simply the bit that we do not eat. Coconut palms are grown mainly in the sea belt areas of the north-western parts of Sri Lanka. The trees that give us the fibre are very strong and use hardly any fertilizers, pesticides or insecticides.
Mature coconut can produce between 50-100 coconuts per year. The brown fibre is harvested from fully ripened coconut. It is about 10cm - 30cm long, relatively waterproof, and one of the few vegetable fibres with natural resistance to fungus and mites. Coconuts are grown by small scale farmers, who use local mills for fibre extraction. It is an important source of their income.
Coconut fibre is harder than sisal, naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal. Because of these qualities, body brushes with coconut bristles can be used wet and dry, and are suitable for areas with hard skin, like on feet.
PROCESSING OF COIR
There are two types of coconut fibre. One is extracted from matured coconuts. They are naturally brown, having a strong and thick nature and good abrasion resistance. The fibre is known as Brown Fibre.
White Fibre is coconut fibre extracted from immature coconuts. It is naturally white, with smooth and fine soft-touch properties. It is slightly weaker than the brown fibre.
Coconut palms flower monthly. Because it takes a year for the fruit to ripen, a tree always contains fruits at 12 stages of maturity. Harvesting usually takes place on a 45-60 day cycle, with each tree yielding 50-100 coconuts per year. Freshwater is used for the processing of brown coir, while seawater and freshwater are both used in the production of white coir. The coconut husks are soaked in water for maturing. Once they are soft, the bristle fibres are extracted from the husk, separating the soft mattress fibre and the coconut peat.
Our collection of natural body brushes
Dry body brushes suitable for sensitive skin or gentle exfoliation and skin massage. Use before shower or bath.
Sisal body brushes are brilliant if you prefer invigorating body brushing experience. Suitable for dry body brushing and brushing in a shower, bath or sauna, allowing you to discover your bodycare ritual.
The best natural fibre for removing hard dry skin on your feet or cleaning the nails after a working in a garden.