(pronounced RAH-fee-uh)

Raffia comes from the fiber of the raffia palm, a large pinnate-leaved of Madagascar and tropical Africa. The tree’s large leaves are torn apart into long parallel pieces and dried to produce long raffia strands, which have a light brown color. The strong, durable strands can be used as packing material; dyed and made into cord for tying and weaving into textiles, mats, bags, shoes and hats; or simply used as string, both utilitarian and decorative.