By far , the most widely used materials in the production of Indonesian craftwork are the natural fibers derived from indigenous plants. Product made with natural fibers have a distinct made in Indonesia look about them because in many cases the materials are unique to Indonesia.

These natural fibers are durable , sustainable and in many cases quite exotic. They range from the better known basics such as pandanus , rattan and vetiver (cedar root) to the less well known ones such as the stems of banana plants, water hyacinth, mendong (a type of grass) , agel (a type of leaf) , lidi (the spines of palm leaves) and lontar (palmyra palm leaves). They are already very beautiful in their natural form but when they are woven into interesting shapes or used in combination with other materials , perhaps colored and applied to the surface of various objects, they achieve another depth or extension of their existence never imagined : vases covered with the bark of banana plant stem, placemats woven with a combination of cotton and the spine of a coconut leaf or storage boxes made from vetiver that have a fresh , tantalizing aroma.

Natural materials have long been used in construction and housing, and to create clothing and household items for daily use such as basketry and matting. Because of the very natural of these materials and the skill of the hands that create the various products using them , the forms have been easily adapted to the needs of the modern western world. For example , a bamboo basket is transformed into laundry container or a pandanus floor mat is recreated into a place mat for the table. The total number of placemats from natural fibers that are exported annually is in excess of several million pieces. My company alone exported more than seven hundred thousand placemats last year.

There are very few natural fibers in Indonesia that in some way have not been incorporated into household items for export and creative craftspeople are continually developing new ways to use these materials.

Article from Made In Indonesia book edition 2005