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Rattan vs Wicker – What’s The Sharp Difference?

What is the difference between rattan and wicker? Can wicker baskets be made from seagrass? It seems many people including homeware buyers get confused with two terms. Keep reading for detailed explanations about rattan vs wicker and each one’s characteristics! 

Differences between Rattan vs Wicker 

Basically, rattan vs wicker cannot be compared to each other. They are two different things. Rattan is a natural material for making homewares and furniture. But in fact, wicker is a style of weaving, or a method of producing homewares from pliable plants.

Wicker is often labeled as rattan and willow materials. However, wicker can refer to many other natural and synthetic fibers. That’s also why we cannot compare whether rattan vs wicker is stronger.

Rattan vs wicker are often interchanged, but they don't refer to the same thing.
Rattan vs wicker are often interchanged, but they don’t refer to the same thing.

What is Wicker?

What is Wicker made from?

As we mentioned above, wicker is a style or a technique of how homewares and furniture are woven from pliable plant materials. Wicker refers to not only natural materials (natural wicker), but also synthetic fibers (synthetic wicker). 

In Vietnam, several popular natural materials are water hyacinth, seagrass, rattan, bamboo and jute. Synthetic fibers include vinyl, resin, polyethylene, etc. Thus, baskets made from pliable fibers can be called wicker baskets.

Differences between Natural vs Synthetic Wicker?

Natural Wicker

Natural wicker not only has great strength and unique aesthetics; however, it should be just used indoors. Natural wicker products should be kept out of wet, high-humid places and not exposed to direct sunlight. Otherwise, they will fade its color, get moldy, or get too dry, brittle, break and crack.

>>> Explore natural wicker: Differences between Water hyacinth vs Seagrass

Rattan vs wicker: A closer look to some natural wickers in Vietnam
Rattan vs wicker: A closer look to some natural wickers in Vietnam

Synthetic Wicker

Synthetic wicker is the non-natural materials used for producing furniture and homewares, such as resin and poly rattan. Suppliers often try to mimic the look of rattan weave for synthetic wicker. 

Synthetic wicker can be used both indoors and outdoors. That’s because this is known as an all-weather wicker — super durable, moisture-resistant, not fade, stain and crack in the sun and outdoor conditions. Synthetic wicker is also easy to wash and less expensive than natural wicker.

What is Rattan material?

Introduction

This is an 100% eco-friendly material. Rattan is a natural spiny, climbing palm that features long, tough and solid stems. Slender stems of rattan have a diameter of 1-5 cm, and can reach a length of about 30 meters. The stem is nearly uniform in thickness along its length. 

Rattan is widely found in the tropical and subtropical rainforest areas like Australia, Southeast Asia, West Africa, the Pacific. South-East Asian nations are the top producers of rattan products and raw materials. 

Rattan Qualities

Speaking of physical properties, rattan cane and skin have a beautiful golden color. Meanwhile, rattan cores may have different tones such as natural white and brown, depending on species and regions. 

Rattan has long been famous for toughness and flexibility. This material is also lightweight, allowing users to handle and move with ease. With the durable, sturdy nature, rattan products can function well for at least 5 years and more. 

Rattan vs wicker: Rattan chairs & homewares are suitable for indoor use.
Rattan vs wicker: Rattan chairs & homewares are suitable for indoor use.

An interesting fact is that rattan can withstand extreme conditions of humidity and temperature better than several pliable fibers (water hyacinth and seagrass). 

That being said, rattan shouldn’t be used outdoors 24/7 because it is not totally water-proof and weather-resistant. If rattan products are put in the bathroom or other humid environment for so long, they’re likely to develop mold and reduce the bearing capacity of rattan.

Rattan Harvest & Processing

Rattan harvesting is very tiring and risky. As most rattans are found in wild forests, it takes local people a lot of time and effort to travel, harvest and transport rattan to processing sites. 

Also, rattan is sometimes in short supply. Typically, Indonesia, the top exporter of rattan material and products, has limited the amount of rattan being harvested to address deforestation and overharvesting.

Rattan vs wicker: Why is rattan so expensive? – Here is why (Business Insider)

The book Rattan Terminologies also states that the processing and manufacturing are complicated. Also, local artisans have to carry out many intricate stages (oil curing, fumigating) to make rattan more durable and kill insects. Because of all these factors, the rattan’s price is often higher than other materials.

Rattan Components

Rattan cane

Rattan vs cane is also confusing to many. Cane is a harvested, cleaned rattan stem cleared from sheaths. Large diameter canes are commonly used for producing furniture, while small ones are used for making baskets, planters, trays, lampshades and other homewares.

  • Large diameter cane: A class of rattan canes with a diameter of 18mm and above
  • Small diameter cane: A class of rattan canes with a diameter of below 18mm
Rattan vs wicker: Illustration about rattan cane, peeled cane and skin

There are three types of rattan cane for making homewares and furniture. They include (1) Natural rattan cane – with the skin intact, (2) Scrubbed rattan cane – with the skin scrubbed to get rid of stains and deposits on the skin, and (3) Peeled rattan cane – with the skin peeled off.

Be informed that once removing their skin, rattan canes get a higher chance of getting moldy. The outer skin works as a protective layer of rattan cane.

Rattan core

Rattan core is split into small diameter strands for weaving baskets.
Small strands of rattan core for weaving baskets

To get rattan core and skin from rattan canes, processors divide the canes lengthwise either manually using a knife or by mechanical means.

Rattan cores exist in a range of shape and diameter. The diameters of the rattan cores range 2-10 mm in width.

In Vietnam, local artisans often use round core threads for weaving Vietnam wicker baskets, wicker dinner trays, indoor wicker planter, lampshades, wicker pet houses, baby toys, etc.

Rattan skin

Rattan skin (rattan peel) is extracted from rattan cane. The skin is flat or semi-circular with a width of 2-10mm. It is highly pliable, a bit shiny, durable, hard to damage and get mold.

It is usually used for weaving baskets, binding the joints of furniture and making rattan webbing for decorating furniture or other homewares. Rattan webbing (also called rattan cane webbing) is usually produced by machine, and this comes in many patterns.

Rattan vs wicker: Some popular patterns of rattan cane webbing

Rattan Homeware Categories

Rattan vs wicker are not only applied in making furniture, but a broad assortment in the home industry. Vietnamese artisans commonly produce the following typical ranges of rattan — Home Storage, Indoor Planters, Home Decor, Lampshades, Kitchen & Tableware, Pet Products, and Baby & Kids.

Vietnam rattan vs wicker tray with handles
Vietnam rattan vs wicker tray with handles
Wholesale wicker baskets with handles made from rattan
Wholesale wicker baskets with handles made from rattan
Vietnam wicker baskets bulk woven from rattan core
Vietnam wicker baskets bulk woven from rattan core
Wicker mirror round made from rattan core
Wicker mirror round made from rattan core
Wicker plant stands indoor made from rattan canes
Wicker plant stands indoor made from rattan canes
Woven lanterns for decor made from rattan vs wicker
Woven lanterns for decor made from rattan vs wicker
Wicker pet house or white rattan cat dog house
Wicker pet house or white rattan cat dog house
Rattan magazine rack or magazine holders bulk
Rattan magazine rack or magazine holders bulk
Rattan pendant shade only with black and natural color
Rattan pendant shade only with black and natural color

>> Figure out more insights: Rattan vs Wicker vs Cane vs Willow?

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