Cabuya fiber is being dyed soaked in a pot of matachi bark. My teacher Maria discovered that this bark which is used to stain leather, works well also on cabuya fiber and produces a deep red. When I was staying in this area, the community had just received an order for 500 bags f organic coffeee and the women in the fiber cooperative were commissioned with making 500 crcheted cabuya fiber baskets in which to put the coffee bags. The presentation was really lovely. Maria wanted to use her matachi dyed fiber but was urged not to by the American project supervosor as she thought that the French customers woud not believe that such a rich color had come from a natural source in that area! On the right is cabuya fiber which was dyed with other plant material.
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