Handwoven sun-dried leaves from the raffia palm become material for many different artisans

The photos below show step by step how sun-dried leaves from the raffia palm are dyed, divided lengthwise, tied together, wound on a spool, woven by hand in the artisans’ self-made looms to become a very useful material (rabane) for many other artisans, e.g. hatters and bag manufacturers.

The weaving of raffia has been well documented since the 19th century, but can be assumed to have a much longer history in Madagascar. Weaving raffia palm leaves is still a craft practiced in the countryside, where it is a complement to the self-sufficiency economy. It is mainly the women who weave. There are some places in Madagascar that have made themselves known as particularly skilled at weaving raffia palm leaves: Andramasina, Ambatomanga, Fanandriana. Photos below come from one of these places (Andramasina). After photos of preparation and weaving of raffia, follow photos of artisans who in their studios use the woven material (rabane) in the crafting of e.g. hats, bags, roses. - Products that are all genuine handicraft products in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

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Raffia - Arecaceae Raphia farinifera

1 The material consists of sundried leaves from raffia palm. The raffia palm thrives on Madagascar's humid, warm shores.

Handwoven raffia location

2. Weaving the raffia palmleaves is an important supplement to subsistence farming in this community on the Malagasy highlands.

Raffia handwoven

3. Dying the raffia palmleaves. Only dyes complying with the Öko-Tex 100 standard is used for La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Raffia handwoven

4. Madame Laure gets dyes when she delivers the finished fabrics to the capital. She dyes so much that it is enough raffia for weaving in many houses (farms) in the village. It is the women who weave.

Raffia handwoven location

5. Mme Laure is sitting upstairs in her house weaving. Her house is typical for the region, built with local materials.

Raffia handwoven

6. Before start weaving, Mme Laure splits the palmleaves lengthwise, ties in order to make a long thread, wind the thread on a quill.

Raffia handwoven

7. She sets up the piece and starts weaving. The handlooms are made by the men in the village. A handloom lasts for some 15 years.

Raffia handwoven

8. To weave raffia demands time - but the result is good!

Raffia handwoven location

9. The weaving supplement subsistence agriculture. Agriculture is putting food on the table - but it does not give a surplus that can be sold.

Raffia handwoven location

10. Road conditions to / from the village is extremely difficult. The woven raffian involves minimal weight and volume - it is an opportunity to take advantage of for the residents

Raffia handwoven

11. Cutting out. Mlle Lanto and Mme Vola are two of six sisters who sew stylish hats of raffiaväven.

Raffia handwoven

12. Ironing. Mme Bako irons the woven raffia before sewing. Re-hot coal is put into the iron.

Hat handmade of handwoven raffia

13. Sewing. Mme Vola has finished sewing and finally the broad-brimmed, elegant hat is ready for use. Click below for more info and to find the hat in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

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14. Hand-woven raffia for bag manufacturing. Artisan and designer Mme Viviane makes bags with outside of woven raffia. The motifs on the bag (here flowers) are created of woven raffia cuttings that have been sewn onto the bag. Click below for more info and to find the bag in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Bag handmade of handwoven raffia

14. Hand-woven raffia for bag manufacturing. Artisan and designer Madame Viviane makes bags with outside of woven raffia. The motifs on the bag (here flowers) are created of woven raffia cuttings that have been sewn onto the bag. Click below for more info and to find the bag in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Information and ordering

15. Hand-woven raffia for bag manufacturing. Artisan and designer Mme Hanta shows bags that have been designed by her together with La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE. The bags have outside of handwoven raffia using half of the raffia fibres naturewhite, half coloured so that a striped pattern is created. Click on the photo for more information about the bag and to find it in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Bag handmade of handwoven raffia

15. Hand-woven raffia for bag manufacturing. Artisan and designer Madame Hanta shows bags that have been designed by her together with La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE. The bags have outside of handwoven raffia using half of the raffia fibres naturewhite, half coloured so that a striped pattern is created. Click below for more information about the bag and to find it in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Information and ordering

Bag handmade of handwoven raffia

16. Hand-woven raffia for bag manufacturing. The photos shows yet another bag designed by artisan and designer Mme Hanta together with La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE. The bag has outside of handwoven raffia; coloured and naturewhite. To the left, Mme Hanta is in her studio on the Malagasy countryside. In the studio she and three other women and two men continues a family tradition of basketry handicraft. Click below for more info about the bag and find it in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

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Raffia handcraft - bag

17. Hand-woven raffia for the manufacture of envelope bags. Picture right shows sets of envelope bags (5 parts), which have outside of hand-woven raffia. Upper photo left shows designers and artisans Mme Jeannine and M. Georges on the farm in whose house they have their studio. Lower photo left shows M. George in the studio. Click below for more info about the envelope bags and find them in the La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

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Roses handmade of handwoven raffia

18. Hand-woven raffia for the production of roses - Fair & Sustainable. The photo series shows artisan Mme Rahery when she cuts, then Mme Ravaka when she shapes hand-woven raffia to roses in different models and colours. Click below for more info about the craft, the roses and find them in the La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

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Handwoven raffia

19. Do you want to create something yourself using hand-woven raffia or maybe use the beautiful material as it is in, for example on a wall or table? The size of the hand-woven piece is 165x55cm. Available in several colours. Click below for more information on available colours in the La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE range.

Information and ordering

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Fair Trade hats, bags, gifts and interior. Genuine crafts with focus on ecology. Wholesale

La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE

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Handwoven sun-dried leaves from the raffia palm become material for many different artisans

Our products

1 The material consists of sundried leaves from raffia palm. The raffia palm thrives on Madagascar's humid, warm shores.

2. Weaving the raffia palmleaves is an important supplement to subsistence farming in this community on the Malagasy highlands.

3. Dying the raffia palmleaves. Only dyes complying with the Öko-Tex 100 standard is used for La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

4. Madame Laure gets dyes when she delivers the finished fabrics to the capital. She dyes so much that it is enough raffia for weaving in many houses (farms) in the village. It is the women who weave.

5. Mme Laure is sitting upstairs in her house weaving. Her house is typical for the region, built with local materials.

6. Before start weaving, Mme Laure splits the palmleaves lengthwise, ties in order to make a long thread, wind the thread on a quill.

7. She sets up the piece and starts weaving. The handlooms are made by the men in the village. A handloom lasts for some 15 years.

8. To weave raffia demands time - but the result is good!

9. The weaving supplement subsistence agriculture. Agriculture is putting food on the table - but it does not give a surplus that can be sold.

10. Road conditions to / from the village is extremely difficult. The woven raffian involves minimal weight and volume - it is an opportunity to take advantage of for the residents

11. Cutting out. Mlle Lanto and Mme Vola are two of six sisters who sew stylish hats of raffiaväven.

12. Ironing. Mme Bako irons the woven raffia before sewing. Re-hot coal is put into the iron.

13. Sewing. Mme Vola has finished sewing and finally the broad-brimmed, elegant hat is ready for use. Click below for more info and to find the hat in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Arts & Crafts from Madagascar with respect for environment, people and traditions. facebook Fair Trade hats, bags, gifts and interior. Genuine crafts with focus on ecology. Wholesale

La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE

Arts & Crafts from Madagascar with respect for environment, people and traditions. facebook
Fair Trade hats, bags, gifts and interior. Genuine crafts with focus on ecology. Wholesale