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The silver palm must be harvested correctly, otherwise if the wrong branch is harvested the tree can die.

Soaking the newly harvested straw in salt water and then drying it on the line gives the straw a naturally browned look, mimicking dried coconut leaves.

Harvesters hang the plaits out to dry on lines in the bushels cut. This process takes about 1 week prior dependent on the weather.

Smoking the straw is a tedious process to blacken the naturally beige color. This process can only be done with one strip at a time and requires the charred straw strips to be used immediately before the straw is too brittle to plait.

For vibrant colored plait dye is typically used. 

Plaiters strip the dried palms to proper width and remove the base for individual strips.

There are many different plaiting styles, some include 11 string, 15 string, Peas N Rice, Jacob’s Ladder, Pearl, Dragon Plait, Pineapple, Fishpot, Black Beans and Rice, Shingle, Edging, Spider Web, Shark Teeth, Zigzag 11 string, Hole in the Wall, Fish Gill, and more.

Plaited straw strips are sewn together to make an assortment of items. Depending on the items they could be sewn by hand or by sewing machine.

Raffia is colored plastic cut in strips and the sewn by hand in depicting different images, typically ocean, island, or floral themes.