Exploring Natural Crafting Material: Rattan - Our Newest Obsession

Lifestyle

15 Feb

In a time where sustainability and mindful consumption are more and more important, rattan has emerged as a favoured material in slow craft and ethical design. This natural, versatile material is not only beautiful and durable but also deeply rooted in sustainable practices. From traditional weaving techniques to modern, eco-conscious creations, rattan is making a significant impact on sustainable craftsmanship.

What is Rattan?

Rattan is a fast-growing, vine-like palm found in tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. Unlike hardwood trees, which take decades to mature, rattan regenerates rapidly, making it an excellent alternative to conventional timber. Its flexibility and strength make it ideal for furniture, baskets, home decor, and artisanal crafts.

Sustainability of Rattan and Slow Craft

One of rattan’s key environmental benefits is its ability to be harvested without causing deforestation. Since it grows in rainforests alongside other plants, its cultivation supports biodiversity rather than depleting it. Additionally, rattan absorbs carbon dioxide, contributing to a healthier ecosystem.

The slow craft movement celebrates the art of hand-making, valuing quality over mass production. Rattan aligns perfectly with this ethos due to its labor-intensive weaving process, which requires patience, skill, and artistry. Each handcrafted piece tells a story—of the maker’s expertise, the cultural traditions it upholds, and the sustainable values it embodies.

Our Personal Connection with Rattan

From Linh Le, our artist collective founder:

Being Vietnamese, I was raised surrounded by rattan — its texture, its warmth, its quiet presence in everyday life. Trays, baskets, lampshades: these were the objects that shaped my sense of home and craft. As my creative journey unfolds, rattan has become my familiar, ever-renewing material — old in history, new in possibility. I’m excited to push its limits, to weave it into unexpected forms and combine it with other art practices. I can’t wait to share the pieces from my upcoming exhibition, where the process of weaving rattan will be as much the story as the finished work.

Stay tuned and find out what we have got in store (or in exhibition) for ArteliLe Collective. Sign up to be notified.