Decorative Raffia Round Fringed Cushion

Discover the story behind this cushion;

The creation of this artistic pillow requires a lot of patience and sensitivity.   The starting material is dried raffia fibers, which are woven into this unique round cushion using the traditional knotting needle technique.  

Raffia (Corypha utan) occurs naturally in the steppe and forest areas of Southeast Asia. The plant renews its leaves about every two years and sheds the old ones, which are then collected by people, dried in the sun for a few days to weeks, depending on the desired degree of browning, and processed into woven goods. While it is hardly known here in Europe, the material has proven itself among the local population in Southeast Asia in the form of all sorts of everyday objects and is very popular due to its pleasantly soft, yet robust texture.
 
When Soeji select their local producers, they value fair pay and good working conditions. Only adult and experienced artisans work in the companies from which Soeji purchase their goods.  No harmful chemicals are used during production. Since all work steps are carried out by hand, the production process hardly produces any greenhouse gas emissions. Soeji ensure all of this through regular on-site visits and ongoing personal contact with their production partners.