Global Crafts
Banana Fiber Bicycle Ornament, Two Riders - Set of 2 Ornaments -Kenya
Banana Fiber Bicycle Ornament, Two Riders - Set of 2 Ornaments -Kenya
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This bicycle ornament comes with a 36-inch length of sisal rope for hanging or making a loop for the tree. The bike features two people and is approximately 5 inches long.
- Set of 2 Ornaments
- Made from upcycled banana fiber
The Story Behind the Art:
Women in the villages in Kenya, near Kitui, are educated and trained in the handmade craft of recycling the dried fiber of banana plants, which would normally be discarded. They use their talents to transform banana fiber into new, eco-friendly art forms. First, the banana fiber is dried, and then a light varnish is applied. The varnish on the banana fiber, with its many shades of brown, resembles a textured tortoise shell. Once the process is complete, the artisans cut the fiber into strips to make one-of-a-kind goods.
To learn more about the talented artists who create these wonderful eco-friendly holiday items, please click on "About the Artisans" below.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Ceramica Quinua, an artisan cooperative known for its social and environmental responsibility, offers steady work to six workshops and 36 families in Ayachucho, Peru. Ceramica Quinua is dedicated to decreasing the use of firewood to reduce deforestation, and as such, works primarily with clay, which is extracted from the land in a controlled manner to avoid erosion.
The artisans shape and fire their pieces in home-based workshops during their nine-hour workday. Children often sit in on the workshops during their free time in so they may learn the trade that's been passed from ancestor to ancestor. The organization also takes pride in offering health care for its craftsmen, and for sharing its environmental knowledge and conservation techniques with students at public schools.
The Quinua district is characterized by the eucalyptus and alder-scented atmosphere of its mountain and forest landscapes. The name Quinua is derived from the Qenwal plant, said to be comparable in beauty only to the Quinuin women. The unique flora and fauna that inhabit the territory are fast becoming a major tourist attraction. Unfortunately, deforestation and pollution from paint chemicals are threatening their existence.
