Caring for raffia

keep it dry, let it breathe.

Raffia is a natural palm fibre, woven by hand. It's light and strong, but it dislikes water and being crushed.

Care topics

Carrying

Raffia is light but stiff, and sharp edges can break the weave. Keep keys in a pouch and carry it by both handles.

Overloading stretches the weave around the handles, and it does not spring back.

  1. Put keys, pens and anything sharp in a small pouch.
  2. Keep it light: a phone, a wallet and a scarf are plenty.
  3. Carry it by both handles so the weight pulls evenly.
  4. Empty it at the end of the day and let it rest in its shape.

Cleaning

Brush off dust with a soft, dry brush, following the weave. For a mark, dab with a barely damp cloth. Never scrub.

Test on a hidden spot first, such as the inside seam. If the colour lifts, stop.

  1. Empty the bag and shake out crumbs and sand.
  2. Brush off dust with a soft, dry brush, following the direction of the weave.
  3. Dampen a cloth with cool water, then wring it until it is barely damp.
  4. Dab the mark gently. Never rub or scrub: it frays the fibre.
  5. Fill the bag with tissue paper and let it air-dry in the shade.

Washing

Never. Raffia must not be soaked or put in a machine: water swells the fibre and loosens the weave.

This applies to every raffia piece, whatever its lining or handles.

  1. Don't soak it, rinse it or put it in a machine.
  2. For marks, follow the cleaning steps instead.
  3. For a deeper clean, send it to us: we clean raffia by hand in our workshop.

Drying

If it gets wet, blot with a towel, fill with paper so it holds its shape and let it air-dry in the shade, away from heat.

No hair dryer or radiator: heat makes raffia brittle.

  1. Blot it with a dry towel. Press, don't rub.
  2. Fill it firmly with tissue paper so it holds its shape.
  3. Stand it upright in the shade, away from radiators and sun.
  4. Change the paper if it gets damp.
  5. Let it dry completely before you store it.

Storing

In its cotton dust bag, filled with tissue paper, standing on a shelf. Never in plastic, never under heavy things.

Never put it away damp: raffia can mould in a closed bag.

  1. Make sure it is completely dry.
  2. Fill it with tissue paper.
  3. Put it in its cotton dust bag, never in plastic.
  4. Stand it on a shelf with nothing on top.

Sun and shape

Long hours in strong sun fade natural raffia. A little steam from 20 cm revives a crushed weave.

Keep the steamer moving. Holding it in one place can scorch the fibre.

  1. Fill the bag with tissue paper.
  2. Hold a steamer about 20 cm away and steam a few seconds at a time.
  3. Reshape it by hand while the fibre is warm.
  4. Leave it filled overnight to set.
  5. Keep it out of strong sun so the colour stays even.

Do

Don't

Small questions