Handbags made from natural fibers look the part for summer, but I always wonder how long these woven bags will last. Straw and raffia are notoriously brittle, but I think I’ve found a material which will survive a few seasons. Artisans around Indonesia work with ate grass, a local grass which is thought to last 100 years.
The ate grass is woven together to create accessories which last much longer than their western counterparts. The result is a summery-styled bag which you can actually use to carry everything you need without the fear of it breaking.
There are many interesting accessory artisans working with this hardy grass. Balinese designer Ketut Wida Haryati handcrafts ate grass purses which are colored without the use of paints or harmful chemicals. Her bags are available from Eco-Handbags and Novica.
Nengah Danantara learnt the art of ate grass weaving from his mother, a senior ate weaver in his Balinese village. Today he takes the traditional methods and uses them to create eye-catching purses with contemporary shapes and accents, like this Batik Moon bag. His accessories are available through Eco-Handbags and Novica.
[Source: Eco-Handbags]
[Image Source: Novica]
