Tunisia ✓ Verified craft Plaited basketry
Alfa basketry
local name: Halfa
Baskets, mats and bags plaited from alfa grass, a plant of the Tunisian steppe.
Alfa grassNatural fibers PlaitingCoilingHand finishing
Alfa (halfa) grass grows on the dry plateaus of central and southern Tunisia. Women harvest it, dry it, soak it and plait it into mats, bags, hats and baskets used every day. The craft is passed from mother to daughter and has recently found new markets through design collaborations.
Connections to other crafts
2 parallels · written by the consortium Alfa basketry Kiondo basketry
Strong parallel · share: Plant-fibre basketry passed down by women
Both weave plant fibres (alfa grass and sisal) and are carried by women; whether they share weaving techniques has not been compared yet.
Alfa basketry Adire textile
Thematic parallel · share: Women-led transmission
Both are passed down by women and have drawn the interest of designers in recent years.
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