Transform Lives in Madagascar with Silk and Raffia

The SEPALI Madagascar workshop has been especially busy this fall.  We have just learned the Tanana Silk has been accepted to participate and the team has been designing new art pieces that combine original weavings with silk (see attached photos)!  Once again, they blow us away with their original designs.  In addition, Kessa Laxton, our market director and has been working hard to expand our visibility and to wholesale buyers.  Now businesses looking for wholesale products can find us on the web platform Powered  by People.  Angie Brown is expanding our reach direct to store retailers.  The team has had to up production and focus on improving quality control and production volume.  

Update on conservation programs: The SEPALIM team is continuing to expand on its experiments making textile plant dyes.  Some dyes are made from fruits purchased at the market and some are from plants that are gathered and subsequently gardened. The beautiful purple-black dye in the background of the photograph on the left below, is made from the tropical fruit of trees in the   genus, Garcinia.  The common Malagasy name is Mangosta.  The tree is native to countries around the Indian Ocean and has been introduced in South America and Florida.  Mangosta is a slow growing tree, and the fruit is harvested in April. The pulp surrounding the seeds is incredibly delicious and rivals the deliciousness of mangos, in my humble opinion.  The textile dyes are made from the thick, fleshy shell of the fruit seen in the picture on the right.

Ampalibe is the Malagasy name for Jackfruit (below left).  Although it is a native of India it is also grown in Madagascar. It is remarkable for its large size. It is the largest know fruit and can get up to 80 lb. (35kg). In addition to the fruit's beautiful yellow color and very edible flesh, it is packed with nutrients. The fruit is harvested in May, June and October and it tastes like a combination of apples, mangoes, and pineapple.

Update on enterprise: This time last year we reported on our first online shop, www.tananasilk.com, that made its debut in June 2020.  This year the online shop has been completely revised thanks to our product marketer and designer Kessa Laxton. Kessa was hired in March to revamp our enterprise program. She has been working with the team to develop product lines and improve finishing and design consistency. All of these have resulted in operational changes that have been difficult but embraced by the team. We are now ready for the up-coming holidays with a new selection of home wares and wall hangings.  In lieu of a donation, please check Tanana Silk for holiday gifts!

Links:

• Program sales site
• CPALI program site