1 Sisal (Agave Sisalana) – from many aspects Sustainable: It is a hardy plant that grows well on poor, dry soil which is often unsuitable for other crops. The sisal plant is resilient to diseases and can be harvested regularly during many years. In this case, the sisal is even wild growing.

2. In Antapiabe, most people are self-sufficiency farmers in addition handicrafts. There are a lot of wild-growing sisal. The craft making generate cash income.

3. After picking, the fibres are manually extracted from the leaves.

4. The yarn is twined by hand to treads à 50 m or 100 m.

5. Readymade sisal yarn

6. Dying is made with dyes safe for health and environment. If the water is hot enough, a few minutes are enough for the sisal fibres to absorb the colour.

7. Now the sisal is beautifully blue

8. Dyed sisal is hung up to dry.

9. Grandma is a resource.

10. Mme Lanto sets up the piece in the handloom. The work is swift.

11. M Solo is weaving beside. After some 20 minutes the woven fabric is ready.

12. There are two homemade handlooms in the house. When they don’t use the handlooms, they disassemble and put the pieces by the wall.

13. Woven sisal, ready for delivery. There is no road to Antapiabe for motor driven vehicles. M Solo loads the woven sisal on his bicycle some 4km, where a tarmac road passes.

114. In the capital, Mme Hanta and M Mamtiana receive the woven material they ordered. They use woven sisal to the outside of the baskets, plaited sedges to the inside and bottom of the baskets. Woven raffia leaf leaves are used to the outside of the bottom.

15. The lining (inside) of plaited sedges gives the basket its shape, strength and durability. It is an excellent material for crafts. Click on the image for more information about this material.

16. The handles are made of leather tanned with mimosa leafs and twigs, free from chrome.

17. The handles are sewn onto the basket or fixed with rivets.

18. Ready! The basket is made in three sizes and several colours. Click on the photo to find these stylish and functional baskets in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.