A Nigerian entrepreneur who transforms discarded plantain and banana trunks into eco-friendly hair extensions and fashion items will present her groundbreaking work at CARIFESTA XV in Barbados.
Tare Robinson Korumene, founder and CEO of Eco-Fipnig Ltd and Dunaly Fibre Hair Extensions has developed a process that converts agricultural waste—typically left to rot in fields—into high-value products such as wigs, handbags, shoes, furniture, and other accessories. Her innovation not only reduces waste but also creates jobs and promotes sustainable fashion.
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After plantains are harvested, the tree trunk is usually cut down and abandoned on farmland. Robinson’s team instead extracts the fibres from these pseudo-stems, softens and dyes them, and turns them into lightweight, biodegradable, chemical-free strands suitable for hair extensions. The result is a natural, safe, and environmentally responsible alternative to synthetic hair.
Her research began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when she was inspired by footage of sisal being used for hair in Uganda. Experimentation with plantain fibres soon yielded a breakthrough: durable strands that could be processed into extensions almost indistinguishable from human hair.
The innovation addresses two major challenges in Nigeria’s beauty industry. Synthetic hair is dominated by petroleum-based plastics such as Kanekalon, raising health and environmental concerns. Meanwhile, human hair remains highly sought after but prohibitively expensive. By contrast, Robinson’s fibre wigs retail for about ₦30,000 (US$19), offering consumers a sustainable and affordable alternative.
Eco-Fipnig embraces a circular design model, ensuring that every part of the plantain stem is put to use. Fibres become wigs and accessories, while liquids and by-products are repurposed for other applications. This reduces environmental impact while also generating income for farmers, who supply the raw material and share in the economic value created.
With Dunaly Fibre Hair Extensions, Robinson is also moving into international markets and pursuing partnerships to scale production. Her showcase at CARIFESTA XV will introduce plantain-fibre hair to a broader Caribbean and global audience, highlighting how African innovation can speak to shared challenges in fashion, sustainability, and economic empowerment.
Robinson’s project is more than a brand—it is a blueprint for reimagining agricultural by-products as industrial resources. By linking environmental responsibility with cultural creativity and livelihood opportunities, she exemplifies the kind of innovation CARIFESTA was designed to celebrate.
