Regenerative by Design

Lalaina Raharindimby, Lead Artisan for the social enterprise Tanana Madagascar, shares her insights on value-based leadership and how nature-inspired design can improve local economic lives in a critical biodiversity hotspot.

The intersection of conservation and art - Lalaina Raharindimby wears a shawl handwoven from the communal cocoons of Hypsoides singularis, an endemic wild silkworm only found in northeastern Madagascar where the Tanana Madagascar artisan team is based. Behind Lalaina is the original design for our 'Unity' tapestry, crafted from farmer-sourced raffia, mulberry silk, and the sewn cocoons from six endemic species of Malagasy silkworm. The cocoons are naturally dyed by the artisan team using local lichens, leaves, and tree bark. Like most creations in the Tanana line, it is Fair Trade and Certified Wildlife Friendly. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

This month CPALI sat down with Lalaina Raharindimby to discuss her story of leadership, local impact, and the future of Tanana Madagascar. The shared social enterprise owes much of its success to visionaries like Lalaina, and to the many Malagasy farmers and artisans whose hands bring each Tanana creation into being.

In communities throughout Madagascar, craft holds deep cultural and historical meaning. Creating textiles is more than production—it's a living tradition passed down from one generation to the next. Skills like weaving, silk processing, and working with natural fibers are often taught within families, passed down from mother to daughter.

An innovative textile designer and passionate leader, Lalaina Raharindimby is taking Malagasy craft to new heights, leveraging regenerative materials to uplift those around her. One of ten global artisans selected to participate in the prestigious 2026 Ibu Atelier program, Lalaina was a 2016 Aid to Artisans trainee and represented Tanana Madagascar at the 2019 International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe and at the Shoppe Object 2024 Global Artisan Project in New York City.

Her team's silk and raffia textiles are now available in museum stores including the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, from mission-driven organizations like Thistle Farms, online at TananaSilk.com, and to retailers on Faire. Last year, she and the Tanana Madagascar artisan team launched a new village-based training program to grow the number of women and men involved in traditional and contemporary Malagasy craft on the margins of critical rainforest area.

It's a powerful feeling to know that something created by the hands of our artisans—using traditional techniques and local materials—can move people who come from completely different backgrounds and cultures."

Lalaina Raharindimby

Lead Artisan, Tanana Madagascar

Learning traditional Betsimisaraka raffia weaving - Lalaina sits at a floor loom guided by two grandmothers in the Makira forest-bordering village of Ambodivoangy in northeastern Madagascar. Along with younger artisans and farmers in the community, these grandmothers are learning new skills like card-weaving and wild cocoon silk collage for future Tanana Madagascar product lines. At the same time, they're imparting their own deep knowledge of traditional raffia fiber preparation and Betsimisaraka weaving. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

How did you learn your craft, and what does it mean to you to carry it forward?

I grew up on Madagascar's central plateau, far from the northeastern rainforest. I learned to craft through observation and practice in my community. From a young age, I watched my mother transform natural materials into beautiful things. Step by step, she taught me techniques from our Merina culture. When I first joined the team, I found myself in a new culture with different skills and materials. The fibers all around me held exciting possibilities.

At that time, CPALI and the independent Malagasy organization that we founded, Sehatry ny Mpamokatra Landy Ifotony (the Organization of Wild Silk Producers—SEPALI Madagascar) focused on the science and practice of endemic silkworm rearing. We were working with an American evolutionary biologist and had little knowledge or skill converting northeastern wild silk cocoons into textiles. First, we bought glue to experiment with cocoon collage. Then, we had the idea to buy sewing machines and sew the silk cocoons together with invisible thread. This method preserved the natural shape and luster of the cocoons, which was important to us, since they are so beautiful.

Carrying this innovation forward by teaching new artisans has been so meaningful to me. I see this as a way of building new traditions and ensuring that knowledge isn't lost. At the same time, I get to share my work with the world. Through leadership and craft, I know that I'm helping support my community, empowering other artisans, and keeping our culture thriving.

Wings of change - Lalaina works with artisans Sabine and Hassina from the Tanana Madagascar team to put finishing touches on a new textile depicting diverse birds of Madagascar, made from endemic wild silk. The birds were collaged in training sessions with young artisans in the Makira forest-bordering village of Ambinanitelo. Most of the new artisan trainees in this village have finished their secondary school degrees—a tremendous accomplishment. Not finding work, they returned to their communities to farm rice. They are eager to learn handcrafting skills and collaborate with the Tanana team. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

What do you think makes the Tanana Madagascar artisan group so special?

Our group is based in a remote region on the margins of our island's largest contiguous rainforest. It's a really important place for nature conservation, and it's also an economically isolated place. There aren't many opportunities to earn a dignified, fair wage, even for those who have worked hard for their education. Many fall back on subsistence agriculture. Through social enterprise, we get to deliver natural material innovations, advance traditional craft, and come up with new contemporary designs. For us, fibers like endemic wild silks, native raffia palm, and local wetland reeds are keys to unlocking sustainable livelihoods. Through fair earned income, they can help reduce pressure on forests without depriving anyone of anything. We take pride that our creations protect the environment while preserving local traditions.

Inspired by nature - Lalaina and SEPALI Madagascar Director Mamy Ratsimbazafy show Mario on the Tanana Madagascar artisan team their collective acknowledgement in a newly released book on the endemic moths of Masoala. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

Can you tell us more about the team that you lead?

I lead a group of incredibly talented artisans. They're mainly women and men from Betsimisaraka communities along the Makira and Masoala forest boundaries, though we also have representation from other parts of Madagascar. To thrive, our team members have needed trust, skills development, design mentoring, steady working conditions, and connection to fair markets.

Beyond creating beautiful products from natural materials, the team now trains 90 village-based artisans in local communities to process raw materials and craft handmade products. It's our hope that this training will provide future fair income opportunities. This is important because almost all are women who are single mothers. Our work can play a vital role in helping them take care of their children, meet daily needs, and gain financial independence.

A proud team - Lalaina, Mamy, and the Tanana Madagascar artisan team celebrate over a decade of accomplishment, creative design, growth, and learning. (Photo: Courtesy of SEPALI Madagascar)

How has designing for a global market challenged you or expanded your thinking?

Working with new designs and accommodating diverse markets has challenged me and also expanded my thinking in many ways. At first, it really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had to rethink how we use traditional techniques in Madagascar — and adapt them to meet design expectations, quality standards, and different cultural preferences. This was sometimes really challenging. It required me to balance innovative design with respect for our cultural identity.

At the same time, helping shape our social enterprise together with the U.S. Tanana team has been a powerful learning experience. I've experimented, refined details, and embraced feedback. This has helped me better understand global markets—what customers value, how products are presented, and the importance of consistency and storytelling. For our artisans and the wider community, this has shown us that our craft can grow and evolve without losing its roots.

From craft to art - Lalaina and Delphine, an artisan on the Tanana Madagascar team, design a new wild silk collage from the golden cocoons of Madagascar's ghostly silk moth, Ceranchia apollina. Inspired by Malagasy flowers in the courtyard outside, the new creation is a commission from Proud Mary. It will be used in a forthcoming line of fine art prints and notecards to deliver needed income as the social enterprise grows. (Photo: Rachel Kramer/CPALI)

As a leader, what responsibility do you feel toward the artisans that you work with?

As a leader, I feel a deep responsibility toward the artisans on my team and in the villages we serve. My role isn't just to guide production, it's to support and protect the people behind our craft. I'm responsible for ensuring fair working conditions, conveying stable income, and cultivating a respectful environment in which every artisan feels valued.

Seeing younger generations start to show interest in our techniques brings me hope. It means our cultural heritage is not disappearing—it's being passed on and adapted for the future—that's a powerful thing.

Madagascar to Manhattan - Lalaina, CPALI Executive Director Rachel Kramer, CPALI Board Chair Petra Silton, and emeritus Tanana Madagascar General Manager Kyley Schmidt show creations from the Tanana Madagascar artisan team in the Global Artisan Pavillion at the Shoppe Object 2024 trade show in New York City. (Photo: CPALI)

Textiles crafted by Lalaina and the Tanana Madagascar artisan team are available from Tananasilk.com. 100% of proceeds from product sales are directed to locally run programs. Have a question? Reach out to team@tananasilk.com. We'd love to hear from you.