Glossary
Abaca
A plant that grows in an equatorial climate and is related to the banana, with leaves that can reach up to two metres in length. It is used to make cord and textile fibre. It has a brown colour and is harvested between three and six times a year, cutting the plant but leaving the root so that the plant can grow again. Ropes are made that are very resistant to sun, water and wind.
Birch
Birch bark has traditionally been used for basketry and canoe making. It is widely used by Native Americans for traditional basketry. It does not involve deforestation because only the bark is removed. The strips are not very long as they correspond to the perimeter of the trunk.
Bamboo
There are many families of bamboo and different origins. It has been used in many areas, from traditional basketry to construction and food. Due to the great diversification of species and the wide spectrum of uses that revolve around bamboo, some regions where its growth was not common are introducing the cultivation as an alternative to the growing need for the use of renewable sources. It can be used to make objects: from hats to garden fences as well as construction material. It has the advantage over plastic that it can be used to build furniture and practically any part of a house: floors, walls, ceilings, support columns, etc. It naturally resists the sun without losing its colour. Unlike plastic, its production involves the absorption of CO2 and not its emission. It does not depend in the least on oil extraction and is totally renewable.
Coconut
Coir or coconut fiber is extracted from the hard outer shell of the natural coconut. It is a material that has traditionally been used for making ropes, carpets, brushes and also for mattresses and fishing nets. It is a non-porous fiber that is water resistant.
Leather
Natkits Leather straps are completely natural, tanned with 100% vegetable extracts (chestnut, mimosa) and under the ecological standards of the European REACH Regulation.
Enea
Enea is a plant that grows in calm waters and on the banks of rivers. It has long, narrow leaves. They are cut when they reach their maximum size before wilting. These leaves are dried in the sun and twisted together to make cordage. It has traditionally been used to string seats for traditional furniture. Enea seats are comfortable and very resistant. To work with it, it is recommended to moisten it beforehand.
Water Lily
This plant is native to South Africa. It has become naturalized and is also cultivated in many other parts of the world with warm or tropical climates. It prefers humid and shaded areas with plenty of water. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant in shade or semi-shade, in humid and fertile soils.
Rye Straw
It is a plant from the Gramineae family that has traditionally been used in popular crafts in basketry. Rye straw has also been used to make hats and for marquetry work. In some areas it has also been used as a plant cover on wooden frames.
Corn Straw
Straw obtained from the dried stem or leaves of corn. It is not as flexible as rye straw, but it has also been used in rope-making and braiding crafts. When stems are joined together to make braids, a surprising resistance is achieved. It is also used for making hats and basketry in general. It is also advisable to moisten it before working with it. Corn straw braids are very decorative.
Palm
There are many varieties of palm adapted to different climates. The palmetto leaf is dried and prepared in thin strips for braiding work. It has been used in the making of hats, brooms, baskets and mats. The palmetto or dwarf palm belongs to the Arecaceae family and does not usually exceed 2 m in height. Its leaves are deeply divided into numerous segments. It grows throughout the Mediterranean and in South America and is cultivated for ornamental purposes. The palm leaf is very suitable for basketry. The palm is normally worked in sewn plait but it can also be used as a fabric. Baskets made of palm plait are very resistant and at the same time flexible.
Danish paper
Braided paper cord has been used to weave Nordic style chair seats since the 1940s. It became perhaps the most distinctive and, for some people, the type of seat most closely associated with chairs of the Danish modern period. Hans Wegner used this type of paper cord to weave the seats of his iconic chairs. This type of cord is easy to work with and is also suitable for other types of work such as basketry, bag making, accessories…
Raffia
Raffia is a genus of plants belonging to the palm family (Arecaceae). It is made up of approximately twenty species, all native to Africa. The fibre from the raffia leaf has multiple uses, especially in the textile field, floral decoration and for agriculture.
The fiber has been used to make everything from hats to shoes to decorative objects.
Raffia fabric is used as a covering and as an upholstery textile.
Raffia thread is used to graft fruit trees. Once wet, it is used to bind the parts opened by the cut. Raffia is very flexible and makes it easy to close the cuts in the tree.
Rattan
Young stem of plants of the Calamus genus, used mainly in the manufacture of light furniture, rope, basketry and mat making. The term "rattan" refers to climbing palms of the Calamus genus, which includes around 62 species. It grows very quickly and does not involve deforestation. It is a very flexible and easy to work material, making it ideal for beginners in basic basket making techniques. It has also been widely used for children's projects.
The rattan plant is indigenous to rainforests. It is essentially a climbing vine that relies on trees to make its rapid ascent to the top of the canopy. Why is it a sustainable material? By growing like a vine, rattan produces the material used for furniture making 7 times faster than a tree needs to produce wood and each rattan plant can grow to a whopping 200 metres in length.
In no case does the harvesting of rattan involve deforestation or negative consequences for the species that inhabit the forest. The harvest is done by hand and the tip of the plant is replanted at the base of its tree ready to repeat the process. The locals then divide the rattan into several parts, the stem is sorted by thickness and the skin is peeled off for weaving and tying.
Not only is rattan a sustainable resource in itself, it also provides a cash crop for those living in the rainforest, which actually relies on preserving the ecosystem and is an alternative to deforestation for agriculture or palm oil production. Plus, it makes for some really lovely eco-friendly furniture and basketry – or at least that’s what we think!
Rattan pith
Rattan pith is a fibre from the inside of the cane and is used as a material for making furniture, lamps, weaving baskets and making crafts. Due to its high porosity, it is also used as a perfume diffuser in “Mikado” type home air fresheners.
Rattan reed
It is the rattan cane that preserves the outer skin, also called reed. Widely used in basketry and rattan furniture manufacturing.
Flat rattan ribbon
These are strips made from cuts from the inside of the rattan cane stem. They are flat on both sides and can reach up to 20/22 mm in width. As they are a porous material that does not retain the skin of the rattan bark, they can be easily varnished or dyed.
Rattan strips
The tiretas are longitudinal sections of the rattan cane. They are flat on the inside and slightly oval on the outside.
Rattan skin strip: Rattan skin strip, also known as rattan strip, is the outer part of the bark of the rattan cane. It is very strong and flexible and has traditionally been used to weave seats and chair backs. If the cut still has the bark or skin, it is called a rush strip, and if it is peeled, it is a pith strip. We also supply flat, peeled pith strip on both sides.
Strip of marrow
If the outer oval part is peeled and does not retain the skin of the rattan, it is called a pith tireta. It is porous and accepts varnish or stain well.
Rattan weaves
Rattan fabrics are manufactured in different roll widths from 30 to 91 cm. They are usually classified as reed fabrics with skin or pith fabrics and also between dense or openwork fabrics. Reed fabrics retain the skin of the cane and pith fabrics are woven with strips of peeled rattan so that it can be treated with dyes and varnishes. They are woven with rattan strips of different sizes and designs. They are used for the manufacture of seats and chair backs, furniture manufacturing, dividers, bags, crafts and general coverings.
Seagrass
It is a type of grass that grows in humid areas. Cords of different diameters are obtained by twisting the leaves manually. These cords are used to string seats and for basketry work. Lately it has been an alternative to cording with bulrush. It has a natural greenish color and is very resistant. Due to its great resistance and low porosity, it is also used for the manufacture of natural carpets. It can be cleaned easily since it does not stain easily. It is an alternative to cording with bulrush.
Sisal
Sisal is a plant belonging to the Agavaceae family. It is native to the Yucatan Peninsula, but has been introduced and successfully exploited in many tropical and subtropical countries. Its leaves are rigid, grow in a rosette and can reach up to 1.5 m in length and 4-5 m in width. A textile fibre is extracted from the leaves of the sisal plant. It is a short, hard fibre, creamy white to yellow in colour and very resistant to salinity. It has traditionally been used in the manufacture of marine ropes, nets, packing fabrics, as well as in the paper industry or for filling furniture. It is mainly used for the manufacture of carpets and rugs.
Vine
The shoot or stalk of the vine is long, thin, flexible and knotty. The leaves, twigs and bunches of grapes sprout from it. It has traditionally been used in basketry and in the manufacture of bases for floral or ornamental wreaths. The vine is a climbing plant from the Vitaceae family. It is currently cultivated throughout the world in temperate climates.
Jute
A vegetable fibre obtained from the stems of the jute plant. It is one of the most commonly used fibres in the manufacture of bags, carpets, ropes, packaging fabrics and paper. Jute is also used as a tapestry weave on vertical looms. Although it is not as strong as hemp, it is used as a substitute for wool in textile manufacturing. It is not recommended to wet it or in humid places. Jute ropes are currently used for decoration and temporary constructions. Jute carpets are inexpensive and a good alternative to other industrially produced fabrics.