manila folder

The manila folder is a holder designed to contain documents and paperwork. It is generally formed by folding a large sheet of stiff card in half. Though traditionally beige, sometimes other colors are used to differentiate categories of files. The manila component of the name comes from manila hemp or abaca, from which manila folders were originally made. Manila hemp is a type of fiber that comes from a relative of the banana plant. Commonly used for ropes, paper products, and coarse fabrics, manila hemp is indigenous to the Philippines and gets its name from the country's capital.