Flaunting vertical stripes in a soft lavender hue, these beautiful UMEME baskets are handwoven in rural Kenya from local sisal in three different sizes - one for virtually every home storage need! Use a small woven basket for make up, jewellery and watches, remote controls, mobile devices and cables, while the medium and large woven baskets make great floor storage for everything from laundry and loo rolls to rugs and blankets, slippers and children’s toys. These lavender stripe baskets also make excellent woven planters for all types of houseplants – and we can’t think of a more perfect new home gift for someone who loves all things purple or pastel hued!

The women behind these UMEME striped woven baskets practise this traditional craft within a small weaving group in rural Kenya. We visit and spend time with these women as often as we can, and have built a strong bond with the craftswomen and their inspiring chairlady, Madam Dorcas over the years. Before we started trading with this group, the weavers would travel to Nairobi to sell their woven baskets at city markets. Today, these women can earn a reliable income from home, working to complete large and regular orders from The Basket Room during downtime between childcare, housework and farming. 

The lion’s share of basket production takes place during Kenya’s dry seasons and we have developed our business to work synergistically with these seasons. Most weavers across Africa rely on farming to feed, support and clothe their families, so when farming slows down, weaving work picks up. Purchasing one of our woven baskets helps us in our mission to empower African craftswomen and preserve this profitable craft. You can read more about these weavers 

Material:  SISAL & BRANDED LEATHER TAB

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