Coir -The Creative Side of India

Coir is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes, mattresses, etc. Coir is the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut.

The Coir Industry is one of those industries in India which is still at it's peak. It started off with making small household items with the help of coir, and today, India has it's own Coir Industry, with around 7 lakh people working under it's roof.

Products made with coir-

Coir Products is an Eco-friendly product. Due to this feature, coir is used in a wide range of products, from coir molded baskets , to mattresses and yarns. Some of the other products made out of these are as follows-

• Ropes and Belts- Coir rope-making is a common cottage industry in India. The Coconut fibre is attached to hooks on a wheel that is turned by hand. This twists the coir while more is added. It forms a strong rope that doesn’t unwind or break. Coir belts are mainly used for driving machines and as conveyer belts.

• Mattresses, tiles and rugs- Majority of the households in India have coir mattresses or rugs. Coir tiles on the other hand are a different ball game all together. Mattings are cut, rubberised and finished with narrow straight edges, enabling it to be laid together to form tiles. Strong and Eco-friendly Coir Tiles come in innovative designs so that it can make the floors look classy.

• Coir Fenders and Baskets-Coir fenders are commonly made in spherical, cylindrical or ring shapes. Fenders are made in the required shape from coir yarn, rope, or fibre tied together tightly. Coir rope knotted to form the outer shell by traditional knotting technique.

One can get home made products customized and get beautiful decorative items made out of coir. This not only acts as an added beauty but also brings eye catching views by others. Best part, is that this is a cheap good, and thus does not a punch a whole in the pocket.

With a little amount of training, one can even make such useful items at home. Since coir does not harm the environment in any way, one can always make a items which would make life even more economical and convenient for them.