In the hamlet of Henavala in Sri Lanka’s hill country resides a group of traditional artisans who have been weaving a natural fibre mat passed over the generations for over 300 years. Using a loom which has remained true to its origins, a group of men and women hand weave mats using a natural fibre extracted from the Hana (Agave cantala) plant.
However, this very basic mat is then turned into a beautiful set of handbags by Kantala, a Sri Lankan startup fashion accessories brand, which is endeavouring to save the livelihoods of these traditional artisans. Founded by my friend and I, we are passionate about preserving Sri Lanka’s traditional identity. At Kantala, we work closely with the artisans to develop the handwoven mats which are then used to make their ethical and sustainable handbags.
The weavers retain a great part of the process which was handed down to them by their ancestors. They work with pride, passion and precision with a lot of respect towards nature and preserving the legacy of their forefathers.
You can learn more about Kantala and support the traditional artisans by visiting our IndieGoGo campaign page at https://igg.me/at/kantala
More info: igg.me
The handwoven mat turns into these beautiful handbags
The Hana rosette breathes life to a 300 year old craft
Preserving the techniques of their ancestors, fibres are extract by hand
Artisans weave each mat with pride, precision and passion
The mats are now used to make a wide range of handbags, wallets and clutches which are helping to preserve a part of Sri Lanka’s traditional identity
