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*

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.*

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

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*

*Wholesale wicker baskets with handles made from rattan*

*Vietnam wicker baskets bulk woven from rattan core*

*Wicker mirror round made from rattan core*

*Wicker plant stands indoor made from rattan canes*

*Woven lanterns for decor made from rattan vs wicker*

*Wicker pet house or white rattan cat dog house*

*Rattan magazine rack or magazine holders bulk*

*Rattan pendant shade only with black and natural color*

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

Should you take an interest in more natural rattan vs wicker home products, kindly contact us for tailored product collections or download 2022 Homeware Selections below!

Download Homeware Selection 2022

Wicker laundry hampers (often called as laundry baskets) are not only practical for laundry storage, but also for decorating interiors. According to Export Data 2021 from Vietnam Customs, top 3 natural materials of exported homewares are water hyacinth, seagrass, rattan. They’re popularly used in producing laundry hampers, let’s see why they are good fits.

Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is among quality fibers for making homewares in general and wicker laundry hampers in particular. In 2021, water hyacinth exports had the largest volume amongst natural homewares exported from Vietnam. This is preferred by consumers in the U.S, Australia, Canada and many European markets.

Why is water hyacinth ideal for making wholesale hampers? Thanks to its physical property: Long, spongy stalks (stems). The dried stalks are super durable, with a unique honey brown. Water hyacinth hampers feature very strong structure for up to 60-liter storage and earthy tones to match any decor.

Here are several weaving styles of water hyacinth for durable, decorative wicker laundry hampers.

Rolled weave of Water-hyacinth

This weave is made by rolling water hyacinth around a core (it consists of multiple seagrass strands), in order to form a thick structure with a metal frame. Of all weaves of water hyacinth, it has the highest production cost because it requires producers to use a lot of materials. In addition, it takes weavers harder effort than other weaving styles, which means more labor cost.

The combination of materials: water hyacinth, seagrass and a metal frame will create a thick, tight and strong weave — truly suitable for wicker laundry hampers to store a large amount of clothing.

Twisted weave of Water-hyacinth

Twisted ropes are created by twisting 2-3 stalks of water hyacinth together. These ropes are super solid, so wicker laundry hampers will be practical storage solutions for a long time. During production, this twisted weave is coupled with a metal frame so that the hampers are strong and well-shaped enough.

*Twisted water hyacinth woven laundry hamper*

*Triple weave twisted water hyacinth laundry hamper*

*Twisted water hyacinth open weave laundry hamper*

Rice nut weave of Water-hyacinth

Rice nut weave is a traditional weaving style of twining water hyacinth stalks. Since the stalks are spongy and have a quite large diameter (larger than seagrass), they make each weave look like a rice nut.

Rice nut weave can be made without using a metal frame. Yet for wicker hampers, this weave is required to have a metal frame for added durability. It helps hampers become sturdier, and minimizes the chance of deformation due to the heavy load of clothing.

*Rice nut weave water hyacinth wicker laundry hamper*

Cat-shaped wicker hamper with rice nut weave water hyacinth — *Cat-shaped hamper with rice nut weave water hyacinth*

Rectangular hyacinth wicker laundry hamper with rice nut weave — *Rectangular hyacinth laundry hamper with rice nut weave*

Arrow weave of Water-hyacinth

Arrow weave is another traditional style that local artisans mainly apply for water hyacinth products, particularly wicker laundry hampers. Artisans create this weave with two water hyacinth stalks, and it looks like an arrow or fishbone.

You may see the arrow weave in many homewares such as table placemats or storage baskets, that’s very popular. Similar to rice nut weave, arrow weaves are combined with metal frames to make hampers durable and not likely to deform over time.

*Arrow weave water hyacinth round hamper with lid*

*Large laundry hamper with arrow weave water hyacinth*

*Arrow weave water hyacinth round hamper*

Other Open weaves of Water-hyacinth

Besides above styles, there are open weaves with water hyacinth stalks that are suitable for making wicker laundry hampers. They all need to be combined with a metal frame for sturdiness; otherwise, the hampers will deform due to carrying heavy loads of laundry. These weaves’ production cost are often the lowest.

Open weave *water hyacinth* wicker hamper with **ZIGZAG patterns**

Open weave water hyacinth laundry hamper also baskets with **HEXAGON patterns**

*Open weave water hyacinth hamper with **ASTERISK patterns** (PC: BestChoice Product)*

Seagrass

Seagrass is an eco-friendly material that has been popularly used for wicker hamper production in Vietnam. In 2021, seagrass product exports are the second Seagrass homewares are loved in international markets, especially European countries such as German, France, Spain and Sweden.

Thinner than water hyacinth, yet seagrass is highly durable and not easily worn out or broken. So rest assured, seagrass laundry hampers can function well for years and years. Its natural brown tone can easily fit in various styles such as Boho, Rustic, Farmhouse, Mid-century and Scandinavian.

Not all seagrass weaving styles are a good choice to wicker laundry hampers. Some are relevant, others are not. Below are some weaves of seagrass that can go with wholesale hampers.

Coiled weave of Seagrass

Coiling is the technique of making homewares using seagrass and plastic threads. This technique is suitable for producing wicker laundry hampers, as they will feature a thick, tight and strong structure without the use of metal frame.

Most noticeably, plastic threads not only join seagrass, but also create a variety of patterns. The more complex patterns, the higher wicker laundry hampers will cost. It’s because local artisans will have to use more kinds of plastic threads, and also put more effort into each item.

Coiled seagrass weave wicker laundry hamper — Coiled seagrass weave wicker laundry *hamper*

Yellow coiled seagrass wicker laundry hamper — Yellow coiled seagrass large wicker *hamper with lid*

Pink coiled seagrass wicker laundry hamper with cut-out handles — *Pink coiled seagrass laundry hamper with cut-out handles*

Braided weave of Seagrass

Multiple seagrass fibers are braided into a rope, then these ropes are woven into wicker laundry hampers. Not having a metal frame inside, the hampers still deliver high durability, though they can turn deformed over time.

Twisted weave of Seagrass

Twisted seagrass ropes have many different diameters. For making wicker laundry hampers, small-dia seagrass ropes are used for weaving over a metal frame. The plain weave with twisted seagrass helps to bring sturdiness for long-time storage and a rustic, earthy touch to the interiors of your customers.

*Twisted seagrass basket also small laundry hamper*

*Twisted seagrass basket also wicker laundry hamper*

Twisted seagrass wicker laundry hamper wholesale — *Twisted seagrass wicker laundry hamper (PC: World Market)*

Rattan

Rattan is a good option for producing wicker laundry hampers. The strong, relatively flexible nature of rattan is a big plus, as this gives hampers a high level of sturdiness, while adding natural aesthetics for decoration in the house. Rattan is getting popular in many markets such as European countries (Germany, UK), Australia, Korea, Japan.

Not pliable like seagrass and water hyacinth, rattan stem/cane is solid, and that’s why some rattan weaving styles requires more processing in production.

When regards to weaving laundry hampers, local producers can use either rattan core or rattan peel/bark. Below are popular weaving styles that have been commonly applied in Vietnam.

Coiled weave of Rattan core

Coiled weave of large-diameter rattan core — this is considered the most expensive weaving style among all rattan laundry hampers. That’s because this style requires a lot of weavers’ efforts and time. In addition, large strands of rattan core need some technical process before the weaving stage.

Coiled rattan tapered laundry hamper wholesale — *Coiled rattan tapered laundry hamper (PC: Rattan & Wicker)*

*Brown round rattan wicker laundry hamper (PC: Amara)*

White round rattan laundry hamper with lid — *White rattan laundry hamper with lid (PC: Kouboo)*

Large-dia Rattan Core weave

With rattan cane or large strands of rattan core (diameter: 4-5mm or 7-8mm), local artisans also curve and turn them into decorative wicker hampers. They can be made in either close or open weave. Like the above coiled weave of rattan, this style takes significant labor work for processing materials. Thus, the production time is normally longer.

*Rattan open weave wicker laundry hamper* *(3D Design by Artex Nam An)*

Rattan with coiled seagrass wicker laundry hamper — *Rattan with coiled seagrass laundry hamper also basket (3D Design by Artex Nam An)*

Small-dia Rattan Core weave

*Rattan core is split into small strands, then woven into wicker hampers*

For wicker hampers, local artisans in Vietnam also use small-diameter strands (2-3mm) that are split from rattan core. It is a traditional plain weaving style of twinning the strands — you might be familiar with many homeware items such as storage baskets, planters, and placemats.

These rattan strands are often coupled with a metal frame to make wicker laundry hampers get better shape, durability and long-lasting function.

*Round rattan wicker laundry hamper wholesale (PC: CDN)*

*Rattan wicker laundry hamper wholesale (PC: Kohmaison)*

*Rattan core weave wicker laundry hamper*

Rattan Peel weave

*Wicker laundry baskets with the plain weave of rattan peel*

Rattan peel (skin) is peeled off from the stem, then processed into long, thin, flat strands. They are woven in a traditional plain weave. In small diameter, rattan peel strands are normally cheaper and more flexible than rattan core ones. The plain weave with rattan peel should be combined with a metal frame for sturdy shapes and structure.

Rattan peel/skin weave round wicker laundry hamper wholesale — *Rattan peel/skin weave round laundry hamper (PC: Olli Ella)*

Rectangular rattan peel/skin weave wicker laundry hamper wholesale — *Rectangular rattan peel/skin weave laundry hamper*

Square rattan peel weave wicker laundry hamper wholesale — *Square rattan peel weave laundry hamper (PC: IKEA)*

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Three popular materials used to make hampers: water-hyacinth, seagrass, rattan. They are only for indoor uses, and should be separated with water as they will get moldy in the damp environment.
Not all weaving styles of a natural material are suitable for wicker laundry hampers. The production costs and lead time between weaves are different.
Weaving styles that take longer production time are Coiled Weave Of Rattan Core and Large-dia Rattan Core Weave due to their complicated process
You can ask for mixed materials and mix weaves for wicker laundry hampers.

Rattan vs Wicker – What’s The Sharp Difference?

Differences between Rattan vs Wicker