Caring For Your Malawi Chairs

So you’ve invested in an elegant Malawi chair and now have a gorgeous statement piece, occasional chair or quiet place for reading and contemplation. You’ve chosen wisely – because the beauty of Malawi chairs is their versatility, and their ability to blend into any living space. What’s more, they’re wonderfully easy to care for as well, so you’ll be able to enjoy them for years to come, with only the minimum of effort.

How Malawi chairs are made

Before we share our best care and maintenance tips with you, let’s first take a look at how Malawi chairs are made, so that you have all the info you need to keep them looking their natural best.

As far back as 1979, master craftsmen in Malawi have been weaving care, love and consummate skill into these signature chairs – a time-consuming process that takes months to plan, and a full 10 days of work to create a single chair.

Starting with a wooden frame carved from local blue gum trees, artisans insert strong bamboo strips into the frame, then weave rattan strips through the bamboo in intricate patterns, tying the rattan off with special knots. The distinctive curved look of the backs of Malawi chairs is achieved with the help of spare parts from bicycles and cars, which are then removed prior to completion.

The result is a chair woven from completely natural materials, meticulously crafted by hand and designed to be strong, sturdy, and beautifully elegant too – the perfect fit for a bedroom, lounge, dining room and outdoor space as well. Even better, as every chair is handmade, every chair is completely unique as well – so you can be sure that each of your Malawi chairs is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

How to take care of your Malawi chairs

Now that you know your Malawi chairs are crafted from cane (bamboo) and rattan, understanding how to care for them becomes a little easier:

1. Always keep your Malawi chairs out of direct sunlight, to prevent them from becoming too dry and brittle.
2. Similarly, also ensure that your chairs are kept away from potentially damp spaces, such as uncovered outdoor areas, to prevent mould from forming.
3. To clean your chairs, simply wipe them with a cloth, or use a mild detergent to remove any dirt or smudges.
4. Use a high quality furniture polish on your chairs once or twice a year in order to keep the cane supple, and in tip-top shape.
5. Add cushions or throws to your chairs to help distribute your weight evenly when sitting, and never kneel or stand on them, as this will damage the woven structure.

As you can see, caring for your Malawi chairs is an easy task – and enjoying them is just as easy as well, thanks to their striking design. All that’s left is for you to use them, and to appreciate the simple elegance they bring to every area of your home.