Evaluating the Acceptability of Banana Leaf Wax Coating as a Natural Water-repellent for Fabrics

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of banana leaf wax as a natural water-repellent treatment across different fabric types, aiming to provide a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical finishes. Specifically, the research compared three categories of fabric: natural, synthetic, and mixed-blend, each subjected to three treatment conditions: no coating (T1), three coats (T2), and five coats (T3) of banana leaf wax. The study employed an experimental and quantitative research design to evaluate water repellency performance and acceptability. Data were collected through a survey administered to 2nd- and 3rd-year Garments and Fashion Design students in one of the universities in Cebu, Philippines, and garment workers. Statistical analyses, including mean, standard deviation, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Scheffé post hoc test at a 0.01 level of significance, were used to determine differences among treatments. Results revealed statistically significant differences among treatments across all fabric types. For natural fabric, ANOVA results showed a significant effect, F(2, 117) = 549.10, p < 0.001, with Scheffé test confirming significant differences. Similarly, synthetic fabric yielded F(2, 117) = 561.10, p < 0.001, while mixed-blend fabric exhibited the highest variation, F(2, 117) = 1075.77, p < 0.001, indicating strong evidence that treatment type significantly affects water repellency performance. Post hoc comparisons consistently showed that the five-coat treatment (T3) significantly outperformed both untreated (T1) and three-coat (T2) applications in all fabric categories. Overall, findings demonstrated that increasing the number of banana leaf wax coatings significantly enhances water repellency regardless of fabric type. Among all treatments, the five-coat application was the most effective method, confirming that thicker wax layering improves hydrophobic properties without compromising fabric acceptability. This study highlights the potential of banana leaf wax as an eco-friendly and sustainable textile finish applicable to various fabric types, contributing to the advancement of natural alternatives in textile processing.