Glossary

Abaca

This equatorial plant, related to the banana, has leaves that can reach up to two meters in length. It is used to make cord and textile fiber. It has a brownish hue and is harvested three to six times a year by cutting the plant but leaving the root intact so it can regrow. The resulting ropes are highly 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 harvested. The strips are not very long, as they correspond to the circumference of the trunk.

Coconut

Coconut fiber, also known as coir, is extracted from the outer, hard shell of the natural coconut. It is a material traditionally used to make ropes, mats, brushes, mattresses, and fishing nets. It is a non-porous fiber that is water-resistant.

Leather

Natkits Leather tapes are completely natural, tanned with 100% vegetable extracts (chestnut, mimosa) and under the ecological standards of the European REACH Regulation

Enea

The cattail, or bulrush, is a plant that grows in still waters and along riverbanks. It has long, narrow leaves. These are cut when they reach their maximum size, before they wither. The leaves are then dried in the sun and twisted together to make rope. It has traditionally been used to weave seats in traditional furniture. Bulrush seats are comfortable and very durable. It is recommended to moisten the cattail before working with it.

Water Lily

This plant is native to South Africa. It has naturalized and is also cultivated in many other parts of the world with warm or tropical climates. It prefers moist, shady areas with plenty of water. It is grown as an ornamental plant in shade or partial shade, in moist, fertile soil.

Natural Wicker and Buff Wicker

Wicker is a plant fiber obtained primarily from different varieties of the Salix genus (willow). It consists of young, long, and flexible branches that, after harvesting and drying, are used as raw material in basketry and crafts.

Thanks to its great flexibility when wet and its resistance once dry, wicker has traditionally been one of the most valued materials in the making of baskets and hampers, light furniture, decorative elements, woven structures...

Its use dates back centuries in Europe and other regions, where willow cultivation was closely linked to rural life. Wicker stands out not only for its functionality but also for its sustainability: it is a renewable, biodegradable resource with a low environmental impact.

Rye straw

It is a plant of the grass family that has been traditionally used in folk crafts, particularly basketry. Rye straw has also been used to make hats and for marquetry work. In some areas, it has also been used as ground cover over wooden frames.

Corn Straw

Corn straw is obtained from the dried stalks or leaves of the corn plant. It is not as flexible as rye straw, but it has also been used in rope making and braiding. When stalks are joined together to make braids, they achieve surprising strength. It is also used for making hats and baskets in general. It is 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 dwarf palm leaf is dried and prepared in thin strips for braiding. It has been used to make hats, brooms, baskets, and mats. The dwarf palm belongs to the Arecaceae family and rarely exceeds 2 meters 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 into sewn braids, but it can also be used for weaving. Baskets made of braided palm leaves are very strong yet flexible.

Danish Paper

Braided paper cord has been used to weave the seats of Nordic-style chairs since the 1940s. It became perhaps the most distinctive and, for some, the type of seat most closely associated with chairs from 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 crafts such as basketry, bag making, and accessories.

Raffia

Raffia is a genus of plants belonging to the palm family (Arecaceae). It comprises approximately twenty species, all native to Africa. The fiber from the raffia leaf has multiple uses, especially in textiles, floral decoration, and agriculture.
The fiber has been used to make everything from hats to shoes and decorative objects.
Raffia fabric is used as a covering and as an upholstery textile.
Raffia twine is used for grafting fruit trees. Once moistened, it is used to tie the cut surfaces closed. Raffia is very flexible and helps the cuts in the tree close easily.

Rattan pith

Rattan pith is the inner fiber of the rattan cane and is used to make furniture, lamps, baskets, and other crafts. Due to its high porosity, it is also used as a fragrance diffuser in reed diffusers.

Rattan rush

It is rattan cane that retains its outer skin, also called rush. Widely used in basketry and rattan furniture making.

Flat rattan ribbon

These strips are made from cuts made from the inside of the rattan cane stem. They are flat on both sides and can be up to 20-22 mm wide. Because they are a porous material that does not retain the outer bark of the rattan, they can be easily varnished or dyed.

Rattan strips

The strips are longitudinal sections of rattan cane. They are flat on the inside and slightly oval on the outside.
Rattan strip with skin: Rattan skin strip, also called rattan webbing, is the outer layer of the rattan cane's outer bark. It is very strong and flexible and has traditionally been used for weaving chair seats and backs. If the cut retains the bark or skin, it is called a rattan strip; if it is peeled, it is called a rattan strip. We also supply peeled rattan strip, flat on both sides.

Spinal cord strip

If the outer oval part is peeled and no longer has the rattan skin, it is called a pith strip. It is porous and takes varnish or dye well.

Rattan fabrics

Rattan weavings are manufactured in various roll widths, from 30 to 91 cm. They are typically classified as either reed weavings with a skin or pith weavings, and also as either tightly woven or openwork. Reed weavings retain the skin of the cane, while pith weavings are woven with strips of peeled rattan so they can be treated with dyes and varnishes. They are woven with rattan strips of different sizes and designs. They are used for making chair seats and backs, furniture, room dividers, bags, handicrafts, and general wall coverings.

Seagrass

It's a type of grass that grows in damp areas. Ropes of varying diameters are obtained by twisting the leaves by hand. These ropes are used for seat cords and basketry. Lately, it has become an alternative to bulrush cordage. It has a natural greenish hue and is very durable. Due to its strength and low porosity, it's also used for making natural carpets and rugs. It's easy to clean as it doesn't stain easily. It's an alternative to bulrush cordage.

Sisal

A plant of the Agavaceae family. It is native to the Yucatán Peninsula, but has been introduced and successfully cultivated 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 fiber is extracted from the leaves of the sisal plant. It is a short, tough fiber, creamy white to yellow in color, and very resistant to salinity. It has been traditionally used in the manufacture of marine ropes, nets, packing fabrics, as well as in the paper industry and for furniture stuffing. It is primarily used for the manufacture of carpets and rugs.

Vine

The vine shoot, or cane, is long, thin, flexible, and knobby. From it sprout the leaves, tendrils, and grape clusters. It has traditionally been used in basketry and in making bases for floral or ornamental wreaths. The grapevine is a climbing plant of the Vitaceae family. It is currently cultivated worldwide in temperate climates.

Jute

Jute is a plant fiber obtained from the stems of the jute plant. It is one of the most widely used fibers in the manufacture of bags, rugs, ropes, packaging fabrics, and paper. Jute is also used as the weft for upholstery on vertical looms. Although not as strong as hemp, it is used as a substitute for wool in textiles. It is not recommended to get it wet or store it in humid environments. Currently, jute ropes are used for decoration and temporary structures. Jute rugs are inexpensive and a good alternative to other industrially produced fabrics.