matka : handwoven ramie tote

Handwoven all the way from fibre to thread, this slow-made bag is a gorgeous and conscientious way to carry your everyday essentials. Seeking a shift to reduce waste in her own life and enjoy more natural materials, Japanese maker Matka turned towards traditional processes, and fell in love with ramie along the way.

Beginning with raw materials, for every bag, Matka undertakes the painstaking process of creating choma threads by hand— where ramie plant stems are steamed and the outer layer is peeled off, after which the delicate fibres from under these layers are collected, split, and expertly twisted into a workable form. The resulting material is robust and hardwearing, revealing a natural sheen and darkening patina with time and use.

Each unique Matka bag is finished with an antique bell charm sewn into the opening— a symbol of good luck and prosperity. To embrace the signs of its unique and hand-woven origins, this bag has been embroidered with indigo-dyed, hemp linen that has been crocheted into a tactile, three-dimensional finish.