Working with indigenous fibres
Forests and seashores have always provided the raw materials for basketry and matting. Some of the reeds, leaves and creepers are cultivated, but most are obtained from the forests. In most communities, it is typically the women who work these indigenous fibres into useful and attractive everyday objects. Screwpine leaves, such as mengkuang and pandan, and rattan cane provide basic raw materials for most mat making and basketry work. Mats and baskets are decorated by using dyed fibres and variations of the plaiting technique.
- Information in the full article includes
- Preparing the fibres
- Plaiting
- Decoration
