01 rattan
Weaving & Knowledge
Kamaro’an’s weaving is rooted in rattan craft—once used in farming baskets, fishing tools, brewing tools, and even the joints of Pangcah houses. In traditional homes, wooden beams formed the structure while rattan ties held them together like natural nails. Pliable yet strong, rattan peel was considered the finest material for weaving. An ordinary basket could carry more than ten techniques: structures to keep it upright, fine weaves to hide seams, reinforcing lines along the edges, and one-thread knots that remain unbreakable.
We continue learning by returning to the tribe, practicing weaving with elder Roit, and listening to the elders as they recall earlier ways of life. These fragments of memory, gathered in the making, are the most genuine moments.
Diaspora & Continuity
Imay, Lafa, and Sawmah also return to their family homes, recording traditional objects kept in storage and listening to their elders speak of the wisdom of the shore and the mountains—fish traps placed in the fields, rattan mats spread for drying grain. Through these family memories, knowledge continues to flow.
Diaspora reminds us that as long as family memory endures, culture remains alive. All of Kamaro’an’s products draw from this weaving knowledge, using durable tanned leather in place of rattan, letting the old techniques flicker through daily life like small constellations.
Acknowledgment
We thank Badagaw for her notes, elder Roit for imparting wisdom and technique, and Tipus for thoughtful coordination. We are also grateful to the local elders and neighbors who shared life knowledge, as well as to the families of the craftsmen, whose lived stories enable the practice of craft and the envisioning of future horizons. These materials are released under a Creative Commons license, and further exchange and discussion are welcome at our studio in Hualien.