Water Hyacinth
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Every ecosystem in every country, landscape, and specific biome on Earth revolves in a delicate and careful balance, hinged upon millennia of growth and evolution.
A Natural Approach to an Invasive Species.
With each and every example of flora and fauna possessing its own specific place and purpose, the destruction that invasive species can bring with them can be - and has so often been - nothing short of catastrophic.
The water hyacinth is a free-floating plant that grows rapidly and aggressively in tropical waters, and it has become a significant issue for the rivers of Northern Vietnam. Despite its beauty, and the lustrous green carpet dotted with spectacular blue flowers it brings in late spring, it’s unquestionably a menace to the health and biodiversity of the landscape. Congesting waterways, choking the oxygen levels of the wetlands, and providing breeding grounds for disease-bearing mosquitoes, it’s an example of a singular species thriving to the detriment of its environment.
The people of Northern Vietnam, however, are bringing artisanal skills and handicraft production together with an eco-conscious initiative to tackle the water hyacinth issue.
It has long been recognised that water hyacinth fibres have great potential for weaving; their stems produce a soft and spongey fibre, perfect for the production of rattanwares and the creation of both decorative and functional items. Since around the year 2000, craftspeople have been making use of the natural resource, developing income for their communities while helping to reduce the plant’s hazardous spread.
From table mats and picnic hampers to decorative art pieces, sturdy rope, and industrial fabrics, rattan made from water hyacinth is a booming business throughout northern Vietnam and the Mekong Delta. Fascinatingly, innovative craftspeople have sought out a number of other uses for the plant, ranging from cookery (young hyacinth leaves are used in soups, and the flowers in dipping sauces), to producing animal feed and biofuels.
With such industrious and far-reaching efforts being made, reimagining approaches to help the Vietnamese waterways sits side by side with realigning nature’s balance.
How is Water Hyacinth Processed into Fibre for Handicrafts?
As a completely natural and abundant resource, processing water hyacinth into fibres that can be utilised for handicrafts requires several distinct steps, all of which have been perfected over time by the innovative communities in northern Vietnam. These include the following:
Recovery: water hyacinth stems are collected when they reach maturity, at around 50cm in length.
Splitting: the stem is split lengthways, and the tender interior pith is removed following a day of drying in the sun.
Drying: Air drying - approximately 6 hours in direct sunlight - follows. This also alters the colouration of the resulting fibres.
Treatment: The dried stems are treated in a water bath solution of sodium meta-bisulphite, then rinsed and dried again.
Braiding: The fibres will be braided or twisted into ropes of varying thickness, depending on the specific handicraft being created.
Joining: The fibres, which have a naturally-occuring taper, will be twisted and braided with others until the correct length is achieved.
Into this relatively simple and straightforward set of actions, Vietnamese communities and craftspeople have injected their signature creativity and innovative approach. Coupled with the sustainable aspect of utilising the water hyacinth, it’s a fascinating example of working harmoniously with the land to produce items of undeniable elegance and beauty.