COMPANY (Handcrafts)

Handcrafts  of  Madagascar

The rich and luxuriant flora of Madagascar allowed the islanders to develop a true art of basket, hat and decorative object making.

Our company has more than 20 years of tradition. We work with local craftsmen and buy finished products from them. In this way they can work at home. Every fall we provide for all our co-workers, which are over 800, advance payment for the next season. In this way, both sides benefit; we get our quantities and craftsmen get money in advance by which they improve the standard of living.

Since 1996 we have been providing products such as baskets, bags, hats, as well as the hugely varied craft objects from Madagascar and abroad (over 60 countries worldwide).

Basket and Hat making was for a long time a woman’s craft. The technique was first of all used for purely utilitarian objects such as mats, rice baskets, bags, baskets, keep-nets, and hats. It then developed towards more decorative objects such as curtains, frames, place-mats or raffia objects.

Many fibrous plants were used for weaving: rush, bamboo, reed, as well as the palms, leaves, and bark of some trees. In the Antananarivo region, where we get our products from, the fibres that are most used are sisal and raffia.

The work always unfolds in the same way. The plant is cut, sun-dried, softened and sometimes cooked in ash. It is then cut with a small knife into very fine straps, lengthwise. Once the preparations are done, the meticulous weaving can start.

Sisal

This fibre comes from the leaves of a plant called Agave sisalana, originally from Mexico, and very abundant on the island. It is cultivated for its great resistance to weaving.

Raffia

As for raffia, it originates from the huge leaves of a palm tree named Raphia farinifera, and is native to Madagascar. It is mostly used for weaving raffia matting, this supple fabric that is used for making bags, baskets, and curtains.

Penja fiber

As for penja, it originates from the plant:

The multiple techniques of basket-making

Fibre-weaving techniques are so varied that we will not be able to name them all. They often give their names to the objects. In our warehouse we offer objects made in aravola, pinj, moramanga, and rariboka.

Since 1996 we have been providing products such as baskets, bags, hats, as well as the hugely varied craft objects from Madagascar and abroad (over 60 countries worldwide).

Our company and our craftsmen, we love what we do. Let us start working with you also, you will not regret it!

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Madagascar raphia raffia rafia rafija penja fiber penjy sisal handcraft handicraft hand woven natural ecological bio Madagascar Handcrafts Ročna Dela Madagaskarja Rukotvorine Madagaskara Artigianato del Madagascar Madagaskar Handwerk SLOVENSKO Košare / Cekarji Košarice za Otroke Viseče Košarice 3 v 1 Klobuki Dekoracija HRVATSKI Košare Košarice za Djecu Košarice Viseče 3 u 1 Šeširi Dekoracija ENGLISH Baskets Baskets for Kids Hanging Baskets 3 in 1 Hats Decoration ITALIANO Cesti Cestini Per i Bambini Cesti Appesi 3 e 1 Cappelli Decorazione DEUTSCHE Körbe Körbe für Kinder Hängenden Körbe 3 in 1 Hüte Dekoration