Cane or Rattan is a natural renewable resource. The jungle habitat favoured by cane is most often found in third world countries around the world. The majority of supplies come from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Harvesting policies by today's growers allow cutting into the forests for seven years then returning to the starting point by which time the cane has renewed itself. There are in excess of 100 species of rattan palm of which about 20 are suitable for constructing furniture. The finer quality raw cane allows the desired shapes to be achieved without risk of cracking, but naturally affects the final price of the product. Some cane varieties (e.g. Batang and Umbula) can grow at the rate of 3 inches per day making it highly sustainable and offering a raw material compatible with today's demands for environmentally sound goods.

The quality of cane utilized not only dictates the selling price but also the ultimate quality of the final finished product. For a quality item only 20% of the cane is useable so it can take 2-3 years for one plant to grow sufficiently to produce the volume of cane required for just one woven chair.

Manufacturing Process

From the jungle the rattan core endures 11 different processes only two of which are mechanical, prior to being made into an attractive item of furniture.

After being harvested, rattan for furniture making is cut and boiled to remove excess sap and improve flexibility, durability and appearance.

Washing and treating the rattan develops and unifies the colour.

Once treated the inner bark is split into strips by machines. This is used for wrapping and and weaving of backs and seats as it is very strong. The basic frame is made from from the centre cane.

The labour intensive nature of the product provides much needed employment for thousands of workers in the cane producing areas of the world. The intricate skills neccessary to produce a woven or shaped product are jealously guarded. Some designs in the range can take several days of dedicated labour by one worker to produce one item.

The End User

As far back as biblical times rattan chariots were used for hunting and warfare. In Britain in World War II, two million airborne panniers made from rattan were used to supply food to the British forces - today's uses for rattan are somewhat different!

Always considered as the number one option for conservatory furniture, it is now growing in sophistication to satisfy the more discerning requirements of today's interior designs. Favoured in both traditional and contemporary environments the stylish designs combine well with almost any accessory. It is a hardwearing and easily maintained making it suitable for a variety of situations in most homes.