Basketry sisal

Sisal fibres crocheted or tied to hats and bags.

How artisans use the leaves from the sisal plant and their craftsmanship to make hats and bags is shown in photos and texts below.
The material: Sisal is a very durable natural fibre; withstands wear and tear, salt water, etc. The plant (Agave Sisalana) is also very durable; disease resistant, low water and nutrient requirements. The sisal plant can be harvested all year round for many years. In addition, the fibres in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE range come from sisal which grows where the artisans live and it grows without irrigation or pesticides.

Mme Eva is living with her husband and children in a village on the central highlands of Madagascar. Eva is an artisan — but as the majority of the Malagasy people, she is also a farmer.

Step 2. The sisal is wild growing and plenty around the village.

Step 2. The fibers are in the sisal leaves.

Step 3. With hand craft, Eva separates the fibres from the rest of the fleshy sisal leaves.

Step 4. The sisal fibres are rinsed in pure water.

Step 5. Eva twines manually the sisal fibres so that they become yearn. If dying, it is done with dyes complying with the ÖKO-Tex 100 standard.

Step 6. The sisal yearn is crochet to a hat.

Step 7. Mme Eva in the hat she has just finished crochet using the sisal growing around her farm.

Step 8 Sisal hat crochet of naturewhite sisal. A much appreciated hat. Click on the photo to find it in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Step 9. Also bags are made of the sisal yarn.

Step 10. Tying is used as technique, an old bucket as form when crafting this bag.

Step 11. Bag tied of sisal using the technique shown in the previous photo. Click on the photo to find it in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.

Also this bag has been crafted using wildgrowing sisal, by artisans in the same village and by tying. However, the tying technique is in this case macramé and the result a flexible shoulder bag. Click on the photo for more information about the bag.

Spa-bag macramé-tied of naturewhite sisal. Click on the photo to find it in La Maison Afrique FAIR TRADE assortment.