NATURAL PALM FIBER

The production process with raffia:

Extraction of palm fibers

Natural raffia comes from the large leaves of the raffia palm. By pruning these leaves, fibers characterized by their strength are obtained and used to produce different types of handicrafts.

Drying

To work with the fibers, they must be dried for three or four weeks, depending on the weather conditions.

Dyeing

If we want the natural fibers to acquire colors, they must be dyed manually through a process that takes two to three days. They are put in pots with boiled water and natural products, and they must be moved and shaken regularly so that the color spreads through the fiber. As it is a manual and natural dyeing process, the color is never uniform, making the finished pieces more special.

Second drying

The dyed fibers must be dried again in a specific way. This process must be carried out in the shade and takes three to four days, provided the weather conditions are favorable.

Embroidery

The raffia embroidery technique is almost extinct. There are very few artisans in our country who still develop this art. Each pair of earrings takes between twelve and fifteen hours of work, and each crown takes between thirty-two and forty, depending on the type of embroidery and size of the pieces.