Tjanpi Raffia Natural 1kg

Tjanpi Raffia Natural is a premium quality, long-fibre natural raffia sourced from raffia palm trees grown in the tropical regions and wet soils of Madagascar. The raffia is harvested sustainably between June and October each year, a deliberately limited season that allows the palm branches to fully regrow before the next harvest begins. Collectors venture deep into the island to hand-strip and sun-dry freshly cut pale green strands, which dry to the warm, natural beige tone that gives this raffia its characteristic and beautiful appearance.

The resulting fibre is exceptionally versatile — soft, pliable and comfortable to work with, yet strong and durable enough to hold structure in woven and constructed pieces. Tjanpi Raffia Natural accepts dye readily, making it ideal for projects requiring custom colour work. It is also fully biodegradable, making it a responsible and sustainable choice for schools committed to environmentally conscious craft practice.Students can use this raffia for a wide range of art and craft applications including weaving, basket making, hat making, mat and rug construction, and mixed media artwork. The natural fibre quality of raffia encourages tactile exploration and develops skills in textile construction, pattern making and three-dimensional design, making it a valuable material across visual arts and design programs.

The generous 1kg quantity makes Tjanpi Raffia Natural an excellent classroom resource, providing ample material for extended projects, group work and whole-class weaving activities. The long fibre length is particularly well suited to structured weaving and wrapping techniques that require continuous lengths of material.

A percentage of all Tjanpi Raffia sales supports Tjanpi Desert Weavers and the NPY Women's Council, organisations that support Aboriginal women artists across the APY Lands and Western Desert communities of Australia. Purchasing this product contributes directly to this meaningful partnership and the continuation of important cultural art practice.

Tjanpi Raffia Natural can be used for hand weaving, basket and mat construction, hat making and rug making by threading, plaiting or coiling the fibre over a frame or foundation. Raffia can be dyed using fabric dye or natural dyes prior to use to introduce colour into woven and constructed pieces.

It is also well suited to mixed media artwork as a textural element, and can be used for tying, wrapping and bundling in both art and craft contexts. For agricultural and floral applications, raffia works beautifully for tying plants, arranging bouquets and binding stems in floral design work.