Our process for creating RAFFIA bags: from design to production

Bags, craftsmanship, Madagascar: in just a few words, IBELIV takes you on a journey to a sun-drenched country to discover our products from a different perspective. A salutary journey designed to help you understand just how much our creative process is based on strong values: valuing noble materials, striving for quality, respect for craftsmanship, nature and mankind.

Indeed, each IBELIV RAFFIA bag carries a unique story: that of ancestral know-how that spans generations, of an alliance between Malagasy tradition and contemporary design, of a deep commitment to sustainable and ethical fashion. From harvesting the RAFFIA to weaving and crocheting the products, we reveal the major stages that bring our RAFFIA bag collection to life.

It all begins in Madagascar, in the heart of a lush natural environment where RAFFIA grows , a fiber derived from the island's endemic palm tree. Did you know? RAFFIA is a term of Malagasy origin that designates both the fiber extracted from the tree and the palm tree that produces it. The story of our products begins with the selection and preparation of the RAFFIA .

The selection of RAFFIA, the base material for all our products

The choice of RAFFIA is crucial. It determines not only the quality of the hooking and the durability of the bag, but also the preservation of the environment in Madagascar. To select the best fibers, we work with a partner collector who harvests from the country's most remote vegetation, in the forest and swamps. He takes care to harvest responsibly, removing no more than 30% of the young palm shoots.

Malagasy craftswomen prepare RAFFIA

During the harvest, our Madagascan partner picks the leafy twigs and frays the RAFFIA branches. The preparation of RAFFIA by Malagasy craftswomen then follows a precise ritual. The fibers are divided up to 10 times, then dried naturally to reveal their suppleness and golden hue. They can then be dyed with natural pigments to vary the nuances of our products.

As you can see, from the very beginning of their history, our products have demanded patience and care, in which human labor plays a vital role. No machine can deliver the results of this meticulous selection and preparation process.

How is our creative story continuing? Always with the same dedication, and always in Madagascar! A RAFFIA IBELIV bag is entirely handcrafted by Madagascan craftswomen who have mastered the age-old skill of RAFFIA crocheting. Once crocheting is complete, the bag is brought to life by the addition of various leather or cotton elements.

RAFFIA hooking: a skill rooted in the history of Madagascar and IBELIV

RAFFIA crocheting is a craft that has its origins in Madagascar's past, when the first missionaries arrived in the country. It consists of using a crochet hook to make stitches with RAFFIA thread. It's a skill that allows for an infinite number of expressions, given the variety of stitch and mesh techniques used in this craft! Backed by its experience in this field, IBELIV trains Madagascan craftswomen every year to perpetuate this craft and manufacture top-quality RAFFIA bags.

The addition of leather and cotton elements to the RAFFIA bag

Once the RAFFIA has been crocheted, it's time to add practical and elegant details to the finished product. For this stage too, we're determined to use natural, sustainable materials. The organic cotton used for the bag's lining and the zebu leather integrated into the handles or shoulder straps of certain products are added with the utmost care. Everything is designed to combine style, functionality and durability. In terms of design, the IBELIV collection offers bags in a variety of finishes: a 100% RAFFIA bag or a bi-material bag in leather and RAFFIA.

Every bag in the IBELIV collection is designed to last and endure the seasons. Carefully selected RAFFIA and the know-how of Madagascan craftswomen guarantee the exceptional quality of the bags in our collection, but our attention to detail doesn't stop there. At all costs, we want to guarantee impeccable results, down to the smallest detail. That's why every bag undergoes rigorous quality control.

The product is inspected from every angle, from the RAFFIA mesh to the leather details to the cotton lining. Our goal: to deliver a RAFFIA bag with a flawless finish. This quest for excellence is in line with our responsible approach, in which each of the brand's bags must embody an alternative to disposable fashion and unbridled consumerism.

IBELIV's little extra: each bag bears the signature of the woman who made it in Madagascar. A seal that pays homage to the craftswoman's know-how, her passion for RAFFIA, her investment stitch after stitch...

Buying a RAFFIA bag from the IBELIV collection is much more than just a fashion statement! While our products appeal for their elegance and authenticity, our collection is also an opportunity to support an ethical and responsible project, rooted in the realities of Madagascar.

• Social impact: behind every bag in our collection, there are men and women in Madagascar who are trained, supported and valued in their work. From the outset, IBELIV has been committed tofair trade craftsmanship in the country. By passing on sustainable know-how and guaranteeing stable employment with fair remuneration, we offer the local population a lasting alternative to economic instability.
• Environmental impact: we choose minimalist design, controlled consumption of resources and 100% natural materials. Our bag collection is an example of eco-design. RAFFIA, the base material for all our bags, is a renewable fiber that consumes few resources.

Contrary to the harmful production systems of fast fashion, IBELIV puts essential things back at the center: man and nature.

Our bag collection is based on a manufacturing process that leaves nothing to chance in terms of quality, durability and ethics. When you choose an IBELIV bag, you're choosing timeless design and a sincere commitment to craftsmanship and the planet. Browse our collection now to find the bag that will accompany you in your daily life for many years to come, from among the many models available: hand-carried bags, shoulder bags, oversize bags, and more. From beach baskets to shopping bags to city bags, we offer bags of all sizes for every purpose!