Eco-Friendly Crafts in Sri Lanka: Get Creative and Go Green
Sri Lanka is a land of beautiful colours and vibrant fabrics. From the intricate patterns of traditional clothing to the bright shades of fruit, everything here has its special charm. But what many people don’t know is that this beauty comes with an ecological twist! When travelling to Sri Lanka, you can’t help noticing the vibrant colours that pervade every aspect of life – from sarees to fabric and the yummy tropical fruits.
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, with many things to see and do. The colours of this South Asian nation are vibrant. Its food is delicious, and its people are friendly. If you want to experience the best that Sri Lankan crafts have to offer, you can’t miss out on the opportunity to visit these vibrant little villages: Kalutara – This sleepy town just outside Colombo has been home to artisans since ancient times. Today they continue creating hand-carved items like yoga mats and baskets out of wood but also leather goods like sandals or bags made from goat hide!
Ella – Located near Galle on the southern coast of Sri Lanka’s south island (also known as Ceylon), this area has long been known for its pottery-making skills so it makes sense why Ella was chosen as one place where tourists could find unique souvenirs while visiting this part of Ceylon.” Talking of fabric, you can find it everywhere, but what you may not know is that the traditional designs and craftsmanship come with a surprising ecological thread.
You may not have known that the fabrics used in traditional Sri Lankan crafts are made from natural fibres and not synthetic materials. The patterns on these textiles are often colourful and symbolic, with each being unique to the maker. The hand-crafted nature of these pieces makes them more durable than mass-produced items; however, this means they cost more than their counterparts from factories. This is because each piece must be individually made by skilled artisans who use traditional methods that take time to produce each item.
Here’s our rundown of Sri Lankan crafts with an eco twist.
The Sri Lankan crafts with an eco twist are varied, but they all share one thing in common: each product is made by hand. Handloom textiles, coconut wood furniture and hats and bags—these are just some of the items that you can find at your local market or online store if you know where to look. If you want to learn more about these traditional crafts from Sri Lanka, check out our article on how to buy authentic Sri Lankan crafts online or sign up for our newsletter so that we can keep you updated with new products!
Table of Contents
Handloom Textiles
Handloom textiles are called sarees or salvar kameez depending on which part of the country they come from, but they all share similar features. The main difference is in their patterns and colours. Traditionally made from natural fibres such as silk and cotton, these clothes are often brightly coloured with intricate designs featuring elephants or birds—or floral patterns like roses or vines. Everyone loves handmade textiles, but few places take this quite as seriously as Sri Lanka does. Everywhere you go in this nation, you will see women dressed head-to-toe in traditionally made fabric loose clothing. These are called sarees or salvar kameez, depending on which part of the country they come from.
Sri Lankan crafts are not only made by hand, but also by machine. The traditional textiles used in these designs are all made from cotton, silk or a mixture of both. Sarongs are worn by women and sarongs can be used as clothing or as bed sheets. Saris are worn by both men and women; they’re often decorated with intricate designs that represent the culture of their country of origin. In the old day special loom machines were used to weave and dye fabrics by hand but now power looms have taken over this task.
The materials used for traditional clothing are all-natural fibres such as silk and cotton. The patterns are often colourful and symbolic featuring elephants, birds or plant life. You can get some great bargains on various textiles at markets or craft shops around the country so if you love beautiful fabrics, this is where to head! Handloom textiles are made in traditional ways and they are typically handmade by women. They’re often colourful and symbolic, which makes them great for wearing or decorating your home.
You can get some great bargains on various textiles at markets or craft shops around the country so if you love beautiful fabrics, this is where to head!
Coconut Wood Furniture
Coconut wood is a sustainable resource, as coconut trees grow naturally and don’t require pesticides or fertilisers. The tree can be grown in any tropical climate, but it’s most common in Sri Lanka. Coconut trees are also renewable resources: they grow back after they have been harvested, so there is no need to replant them when they have outgrown their usefulness (as long as you plant them in good soil). Coconut wood furniture made from coconuts is strong and durable because of its natural properties—it has very little shrinkage over time; it doesn’t warp easily; and it holds up well against moisture from rain or sweating hands when using your new piece!
We hope this article has given you some ideas for where you can buy some great Sri Lankan crafts with an eco twist. If you want to get more excited about these designs, take a look at our other blog posts on Sri Lanka travel destinations. We’re sure there is something here that will tickle your fancy!
