Ixtle

From the Nahuatl word ixtli or ictli, it refers to the stiff plant fiber used in making rope, brushes, bags, rugs and more. The fibers come from agave plants or from Yucca. In the north the fibers come from agave lechuguilla and further south from henequen or sisalana. The fiber products were used through out Mexico but with the introduction of plastic have been widely replaced, though are still available. There is more interest in these natural products now and there has been an increase in production and use as people look for more sustainable alternatives to plastic.