Process for converting tropical plant material into fibers

A process for converting a tropical plant material into naturally hydrophobic fibers, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing a naturally hydrophobic fibrous tropical plant material having an initial latex content, said fibrous tropical plant material selected from the group consisting of:
• banana stalks, plantain stalks, Cavendish plant stalks and pineapple crowns;
• reducing said fibrous tropical plant material to a form a plurality of separated fibers having a initial latex content;
• washing said plurality of separated fibers in an aqueous solution to extract a first portion of latex and other hydrophobic natural juices therefrom;
• pressing said plurality of washed separated fibers to remove a second portion of latex and other hydrophobic natural juices therefrom, wherein said pressed fibers retain sufficient latex and other hydrophobic natural juices to remain hydrophobic;
• drying said plurality of pressed separated fibers;
• and
• wherein said dried seperated fibers have a latex content less than 50% of said initial latex content of said fibers prior to washing.