Created in stunning open weave, this storage basket is ethically made in Tanzania from reed-like Milulu grasses. Here they’re used for keeping food staples like maize, potatoes and onions dry. Elsewhere in the world they’re make fabulous woven planters, and can be put to use all over the home for organising toiletries or magazines, stationery, toys or even baby supplies.
WAVU was made by a talented weaver within a group of village weaving cooperatives. These fair trade baskets are woven from reeds found in riverbeds and swampland, though many cooperatives now grow their own reeds, having purchased the land and the raw materials for growing with profits from previous basket sales.
Basket weaving gives women and their families the opportunity to earn a flexible additional income during the dry seasons, since most weavers are primarily farmers. These craftswomen earn a fair wage for each basket they produce for us, and this money helps pay children’s school fees and family medical bills as well as purchasing school uniform and making essential home improvements. Many weavers use their earnings to invest in their livestock businesses, too.
Profits from basket sales are reinvested by the cooperatives for local business development. Communities are able to buy things like solar lighting and kerosene lamps so that they can weave after dark, and some cooperatives have managed to purchase new land and warehouses for making and storing baskets with proceeds from basket sales. Cooperative leaders also arrange product development training for weavers, as well as investing in healthcare education.
Material: MILULU GRASS
Dimensions (approx):
XS: 12-14cm DIA x 10-14cm H
S: 20-23cm DIA x 20-23cm H
M: 30-34cm DIA x 28-32cm H
L: 35-37cm DIA x 33-36cm H
Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs.
FAIR TRADE AND HANDMADE IN TANZANIA
The Basket Room