The future of natural fibres starts here.
Skilpack Ltd transforms agricultural resources into innovative materials and sustainable products for beauty, fashion, textiles and interiors.
Banana fibre, pineapple fibre and next-generation natural textiles, made in Uganda.
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Natural-fibre technology
Banana and pineapple fibre extraction, processing, cottonisation and yarn development.
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Sustainable textiles
Yarn, knitted sweater fabric, carpets, rugs and other woven products.
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Sustainable beauty
Banafine banana-fibre hair extensions for salons, retailers and consumers.
Our innovation portfolio
Six product lines, from raw fibre for manufacturers to finished goods for homes, hotels and salons. All are available to order.
Beauty
Banafine™ banana-fibre hair extensions
Plant-based braiding hair made from Ugandan banana fibre. Lightweight, comfortable on the scalp and presented in retail-ready packaging.
Materials
Cottonised banana fibre
Banana fibre refined to a soft, cotton-like staple that runs on conventional spinning equipment and blends with cotton and other fibres.
Textiles
Banana fibre yarn
Yarn spun from banana fibre and banana-fibre blends, supplied on cones for knitting, weaving and craft production.
Textiles
Banana-fibre knitted sweater fabric
Knitted fabric and finished sweaters, produced with our sister company Fine Knits Textile Industries Ltd in Mbarara.
Materials
Pineapple leaf fibre
Fine, strong fibre extracted from pineapple leaves, an agricultural by-product, prepared for textile, craft and composite applications.
Interiors
Woven products: carpets and rugs
Hand-woven carpets, rugs, doormats and tapestry in natural banana fibre, made to your size and design.
Banafine™
Natural beauty. Lasting style.
Banafine is our flagship beauty brand: braiding hair made from Ugandan banana fibre, a plant-based alternative to synthetic extensions. Every pack is prepared and quality-checked at our facility in Njeru.
- Made from
- Softened, refined banana fibre
- Feel
- Lightweight and comfortable on the scalp
- Colours
- Natural black, deep brown, burgundy and custom shades
- Supply
- Retail packs, salon and wholesale orders
From fibre to finished product
Banana pseudostems are usually discarded after harvest. We turn them into fibre, yarn and finished goods in six stages.
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Harvest
Pseudostems are collected from farms after the banana harvest.
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Extract
Fibre is separated from the stem by machine.
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Dry
Fibre is sun-dried, sorted and graded.
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Refine
Degumming and softening produce a soft, cotton-like fibre.
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Spin
Refined fibre is spun into yarn on cones.
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Make
Hair extensions, knitwear, carpets and rugs.
Built on published research
Skilpack was founded by a Ugandan textile scientist with a Master’s degree in Textile Science and Engineering from Tiangong University, China. Our processes for degumming, softening and cottonising banana fibre come from peer-reviewed research carried out with university partners.
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2023
Nanocellulose aerogels from banana pseudo-stem as a wound dressing
Industrial Crops and Products
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2023
The effect of activated water degumming technique on alkali-pretreated banana fiber
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2022
Banana fibre degumming by alkali and ultrasonic methods
Journal of Natural Fibers
Achievements and milestones
Recognition from development partners, research institutions and industry.
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2026
Banafine at the 2nd East Africa Regional Sustainable Natural Fibres Symposium
Skilpack exhibited Banafine and its natural-fibre range at the regional symposium hosted by the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI), Namanve campus.
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2025
Visit by the Central Region Queen for Climate Awareness
Miss Maria Maureen Nabuule visited Skilpack and endorsed banana-fibre hair as a sustainable alternative to synthetic braids.
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2021
UNDP Youth Ideathon incubation winner
Founder Collins Twebaze Bagiritima was named an incubation winner of the UNDP Youth Ideathon for a programme skilling youth and women in eco-friendly materials.
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2020
6th Tianjin City Student Internet Plus Entrepreneurship Award
Recognition in China for the banana-fibre innovation that became Skilpack.
Sustainability and impact
Every product starts as agricultural waste and creates work in the communities that grow it.
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Value from agricultural waste
Banana pseudostems and pineapple leaves become raw materials instead of rotting in the field.
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Skills for youth and women
Training in fibre processing, product making and enterprise, in Uganda and across Africa.
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Plant-based alternatives
Biodegradable products that replace synthetic fibre in beauty, textiles and interiors.
News and media
Company updates, events and product news.
Partners and collaboration
We work with universities, government and industry to build Uganda’s natural-fibre value chain.
How can we help?
- Become a Banafine distributor Retail, salon and wholesale supply
- Buy fibre, yarn or textiles Quotations for manufacturers and buyers
- Request a product sample Evaluate our materials before you order
- Collaborate on research For universities and research institutions
- Invest or partner with us For investors and development partners