Vacoas leaf weaving workshop

During what will be a busy morning, you will get a glimpse into the dailiness of life in a Mauritian village. Fabiola and her friends will teach you the basics of braiding vacoas leaves.

This craft is an ancestral tradition that was brought from Madagascar and other African countries. With the omnipresent smell of dried leaves inside their lovely studio, the women joyfully chat and wave at passers-by. This is Mauritian village life! The members of the association will tell you all about how they pick, dry and prepare the leaves. They will tell you their grandmothers’ stories and how they used to name the various braiding techniques. 

You can get inspired by one of the samples, boxes, coasters, photo frame, or let your imagination guide you. With a knife, you will help “wither” the leaves to make them soft and malleable. It is not an easy task! You will then start braiding the leaves to make the masterpiece that you will take home with you. Feel the satisfaction of having handmade something from scratch.

A braided basket will never look the same after that!