Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2018 | Page 534

Corossol
A charming little village, with houses cozily huddled together at the bay, Corossol is a very
pretty picture. This image appears peaceful and indeed, it is a village that is serene as it is
picturesque. Here, the tradition of weaving latanier leaves to create hats and baskets is still
widely practiced. These craft items make great souvenirs.
Straw
Weaving
Weaving items from straw has been a part of the St. Barths
culture as far back as 1890. Around 1925, a lady from
neighbouring St. Maarten visited the island and taught
the ladies of St. Barths how to make Panama hats and
how to braid and manipulate the braided straw to create
impressive baskets, hats, pocketbooks, fans and other
items.
Straw weaving is primarily done by the older ladies on the
island - an exercise that requires patience a-plenty. Being
such an intricate procedure, the weaving is done with love
and care and represents more than just a craft made of
straw. It is tradition unique to St. Barths and the younger
generation are encouraged to learn from the older hands
to ensure the tradition lives on.
Photo Credit: St. Barth Tourism