Creative and Diversified.

That's the Maranhão's artisanship, Vases, bags, sandals, towels, hats, clay miniatures inspired in symbols of the regional culture are only a few of the examples of a large production that in the hands of local artists achieve always their own brand of colors, nuances and shapes.

The raw materials used are many. Cotton, leather, wood, clay and even the fiber of a plant rarely heard of, the 'guarimã'.

But the main one is really the wine-palm straw. This palm tree, native of flooded regions, is very common in the Lençois Maranhenses' municipalities. It's from the wine-palm straw that is extracted a versatile and resistant fiber that is used to create a dozen of objects sold in the stores and artisanship centers.

The process of the fiber production and later on the objects, is the following according to the Sebrae-MA:

The wine-palm core or budding part is collected. After removing in by hand the artisan pulls out the linen thread (straw). This will be put into water to cook on woodfire. The cooking is done right after the removal of the linen thread or else it will become purple. Thereupon the linen thread will be removed from the water and let to dry under the sun. The thick linen thread is separated and made a cord from pairs woven together in different forms, depending on the object to be made. The next step is stretching the material on a wooden mold where the piece is woven and finished. Finally the product is removed from the mold by the artisan and it is then ready to be used.

You will find many stores in Barreirinhas with a large number of wine-palm straw products, from sandals, hats, towels, and so on, up to hammocks. Check it out.