Karelle Couturier – Basket maker

Pays de la Loire – 1979

In 2014, after a career as a chemical engineering and researcher, Karelle, at the age of 35, began a professional retraining to dedicate herself to basketry. She trained in traditional techniques with Catherine Romand and Christophe Romand, distinguished as “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”. Karelle created her workshop “Atelier Brins de Malice” in Thoureil where she creates unique pieces and limited series, in willow or bamboo. There, she masters both classic French methods and specialized techniques like zarzo, hoop basketry, lacework, and woven panel basketry.

Her customer base includes individuals as well as luxury brands. She also collaborates with designers and artists, such as Elisa Uberti.

In 2019, Karelle discovered Japanese bamboo basketry. Fascinated by the properties of this medium and the precision of the techniques, she initiated an exchange of know-how with Takayuki Shimizu, a Japanese basketry craftsman.

Research and innovation

Bamboo is a promising substitute to Wicker. That said, the preparation of bamboo strips is extremely time-consuming (2 days of preparation for 1 day of weaving). Karelle is actively exploring traditional Japanese bamboo weaving techniques.

With a focus on local sourcing, Karelle uses wicker from French growers. She personally gathers bamboo from different locations within her region. To have complete control over her supply chain and guarantee a local and sustainable source, she intends to establish her own bamboo plantation.

Transmission

Since 2023, Karelle has been mentoring adults in career transition who are training for the CAP in basketry at the MFR “Le Verger,” and since 2020, she’s been training interns with diverse backgrounds in her workshop. She also frequently introduces young people to plant-based weaving techniques through the educational projects of the “La Source Garouste – Ligérienne” association.

Karelle is looking to purchase a Higotoriki, a Japanese machine that automates the most time-consuming steps in bamboo preparation, cutting basketry production time in half. This support from the Fondation will enable her to make her production sustainable, while also giving her the opportunity to create large-scale bamboo artworks.