How Kiondos are made - from plantation to finished product
Sisal Plantations
Sisal (Agave sisalana) is species of flowering plant native to South America but now widely cultivated and naturalised in many other countries. The name 'Sisal' is used for both the plant species and the fibre produced, depending on the context.
The main countries producing Sisal today are Brazil, Kenya and Tanzania. Sisal crops are grown organically and absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They have very low water requirements making them a very hardy crop.
This low maintenance crop is often popular with farmers as it can be harvested all year around .This means they don't have to wait for a particular 'season' to provide an income.
Processing
Sisal leaves are harvested from the outer layer, allowing the plant to keep growing. The leaves are cut by hand when they reach about a metre long. The green outter layer of the leaf is removed by a process known as 'decortication'. This outer layer is then used as animal feed, while the inner fibrous material is pounded into strands of super strong natural fibre. These fibres are then sun dried, brushed and woven into the desired textiles.
Pounding the vegetation for the dyes
Sisal has a natural cream colour. Weavers make the dyes by pounding various roots, plants, vegetables and even charcoal and the bark of trees in wooden mortars.
Making the final product.
Sisal Dyes
Once the dyes are made, the Sisal fibres are put into the dyes and boiled to fix the colour into the threads.
Colourful Threads
Once the dye is fixed, the threads are hung to dry and each weaver picks the coloured threads for the piece they want to weave.
Weaving the final product
Watching these women work is mesmerising. They make it seem so effortless. Once experienced they can weave without even watching what they are doing!