Basketry Raffia

Plaited or crochet, the sundried leaves from the raffiapalm becomes hats and bags.

The pictures below show how the women on the Malagasy countryside, with varying technology and design, plait the sundried raffia palmleaves. The result is elegant hats, lace pattern makes them featherweight. The button on the bag is an interesting detail - it consists of a seed pod from raffiapalm.
The material: Leaves from the raffia palm (Arecaceae Raphia farinifera), which thrive on the hot and humid shores of Madagascar. This species grows 15-20 meters high and has a crown with a massive amount of leaves that can be up to 20 meters long. (The raffia palm has longer leaves than any other palm). The leaves of the palm can be harvested regularly, sun-dried and used in handicrafts. The raffia palm on Madagascar (Raphia farinifera) is one of approx 20 species, which are mainly found in Africa.
Another factor that makes this genuine craft Sustainable: The hats and bags of raffia are beautiful and age with beauty. - They are things you preserve.

1. The raffia palm thrives on Madagascar's hot and humid coasts. The leaves can be harvested regularly, dried in the sun. The material can for example be braided into hats and bags.

2. The artisans, three sisters, live in rural areas. The road to them is of mud and it is very bumpy.

3. Mme Odette is one of three sisters who together braid hats and bags.

4. Mme Perline braids. As so often in car craft, she uses both hands and feet. The result is a beautiful lace pattern.

5. The sisters on their farm. The feathery hats and bags make a excellent contribution to subsistence farming economy.

6. The hat crafted in the previous photos. Click on the photo to find it in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

8. The basket bag Soleil has outside of raffia that the artisans have plaited in the same beautiful, "sunny" pattern as the hat in the previous photo. The handles are made of double-stitched raffia braids. For shape and load-bearing capacity, the basket bag has plaited sedges inside. If you want to close the basket bag, you use the drawstring closure made of cotton fabric. The Soleil basket bag is 2022 new in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE range. Click on the photo for more info.

8. Mme Raton with a bag made by using the craft technique described below. Click on the photo in order to find the bag in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

9. Mme Raton with yet another hat model: Chapeau Fina – a really fine and genuine piece of handicraft.

1. 1. The mud road leads to yet another village where women handicraft makes an important part of the economy.

2. The plaiting begins with the middle of the hat-crown.

3. Mme Ida plaits.

4. Hat block is used to give the hat-crown correct shape and size. Here, the crown of the hat has just been completed.

5. After the crown of the hat, the work on the brim continues.

6. Mme Vololoniaina braid together with Ida and another sister-in-law.

7. Two of the hats handcrafted by Mme Ida and Mme Vololoiniaina. Find beautiful, skilfully crafted hats in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment – click on the picture.

Hats and bags can also be made by first braiding the raffiapalmleavs into band, which are thereafter stitched together. Below shows the artisan and designer Madame Mariette how a hat is handcrafted.

01 The material is sun dried leaves from the raffiapalm.

02 Madame Mariette start by tying a bunch of raffiapalm leaves at, for example, a chair.

03 The raffiapalmleaves are braided to band.

04 The band is stitched together to make a hat. The work begins at the centre of the hatcrown, continue lap after lap.

05 The hat of naturewhite raffia will get details in contrasting colour.

06 The pink ribbon is placed around the hat crown. Matching the edge of the brim.

07 Mme Mariette gives the hat a final touch. The hat is ready!

08 The hat is ready! Here Madame Mariette has made it with green ribbon instead of pink.

09 Another of Mme Mariette hat models is art no 2543 Chapeau Mariette pique-nique. It is made with the same crafting technique, but the braided bands are narrower. The model is different with narrower brim, etc. The hat model is shown in this picture (and on Mme Mariette in one of the foregoing).

10 Mme Mariette in another one of her (popular) models: art nr 2542 Chapeau Mariette Vagabond.

11 Hat model 2541 Chapeau Mariette Courbe is made with the same crafting technique, but the curved brim gives a different expression to the hat. Sustainable Crafts - with style that lasts.

How women skilfully crochet hats and bags of sundried raffia palm leaves are shown on the photos below.

1 Here begins crochet of a new product of raffia palm leaves.

2 Madame Denise lives in a village on the Malagasy countryside. She is one of those women who receive support from La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE. Their hats and bags are available in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE range since the 90's.

3 Madame Denise crocheting the raffia palm leaves to pattern. Here it will be a bag.

4 This crochet hat, with crochet rose, is an example of the skilfully handcrafted products from Denise home village. Art nr 257 Chapeau crochet

5 From women artisans in other location comes this crochet children’s hat. Art no 251 Chapeau Fleur

6 Crocheting of a bag.

7 The bag has outside of crocheted raffia palm leaves, inside of plaited reeds. Shoulder straps of braided raffia palm leaves. The decorative button is a seed capsule from raffia palm. Item No 24151 Shoulder Bag vegetation

8 Shoulder bag from Madame Denise village crochet of raffia. Camouflage pattern is created by dying a part of the raffian brown, another part olive green before starting crocheting. Art nr 2415

9 Madame Olga, in another village, starting crochet a flower. The flower is for type of that she herself wears. Apart from the crochet flower, the hat is made with the craft techniques described above; first braiding band, then sewing the band together.

10 Flower crochet of sundried raffia palm leaves on hat braided of the same fine material. Art nr 2572 100% handcraft of 100% natural material.