Even today Brazilian AMAZONAS hammocks are still largely traditionally handmade. A dozen individual operations are required to make a high quality AMAZONAS hammock. Most work steps are so demanding that they can only be completed by an adult with many years of training and experience. Despite this fact we have continuous controls to ensure that no children are involved in the local production.
Up to 100 people, in the unfortunately still extremely poor northeast Brazil, now have secure jobs thanks to the production of AMAZONAS hammocks.
Up to 100 people, in the unfortunately still extremely poor northeast Brazil, now have secure jobs thanks to the production of AMAZONAS hammocks.
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| 1. |
We go to a lot of effort in selecting the correct threads. This includes stability, colour fastness but also lab tests to ensure they are free of harmful substances. |
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| 2. |
In the first work step these threads must be wound around the beam of the weaving loom in the correct pattern.
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| 3. |
At the same time the correct colour threads are wound around the spindles for the woof threads. |
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| 5. |
Now the weaving can start: A good weaver can produce 5 to 20 hammocks a day on a weaving loom. The high number of threads and the “thrusting power” of the weaving loom determine the density of the hammock and thus its stability.
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| 8. |
In careful handiwork ropes of the correct length are tied to the almost completed hammocks and the suspension loops are reinforced.
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| 9. |
For some models like “Rio“ or “Palacio“ the handwoven macramé veranda (fringe edging) must still be sewn on.
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| 4. |
Now comes the hardest part: The weaving master, a highly esteemed professional, sets up the weaving loom. Up to 6000 warp threads must be precisely knotted by hand: this takes him a whole day.
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| 6. |
In the mean time supporting threads in the same cotton threads are woven in the traditional crocheting device. We use slightly more material than usual resulting in extra thick threads and making AMAZONAS hammocks par- ticularly tear-proof.
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| 7. |
After 1 to 2 weeks a whole role of hammock material has been woven and can be cut into the correct lengths. Continuous hammock clew ropes are now added and secured with extra strong quadruple stitching. This crossover to the ropes is the most crucial area!
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| 10. |
Another work step is still required for our family hammocks: A hand device is used to weave an additional woven strip between the ropes as decoration and to increase the expansion stability.
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| 11. |
In the meanwhile the seamstresses have completed the bags. |
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| 12. |
A final control to ensure that the hammock is clean and free of noticeable defects, then it is folded up and is ready to travel into the wide world. |
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