Handwoven Basket Bag Sustainable

Description

Each handwoven basket bag sustainable design has been carefully handmade using sustainably-sourced and 100% sisal fibre.

The fibre is then dried, brushed and dyed with natural food products. It can take up to a week to finish a basket depending on the size and complexity of the design. The basket is then taken to a leather workman (locally known as Fundi ) who fits in naturally tanned genuine robust leather handles.

We are so proud to support The Kenyan Craft Company who work closely with this self-help group of talented women artisans in Kenya, providing a fairtrade and secure trade environment.

A group of truly talented and inspiring women.

Approximately 30cm height and 30cm diameter

Sisal comes from the leaves of the Agave plant (the sap is truly drinkable!). It’s an indigenous plant that comes from the Americas but the plant was transported to another geographic region in 1893 and nowadays, nearly half the sisal produced worldwide originates from East Africa (mainly from Kenya and Tanzania).

The sisal grown in Africa is slightly different from the American sisal because of the perfect conditions, where it is a hot and dry climate. The African sisal fibers are longer, they’re also finer than the American fibers, and they’re whiter, so it is considered the most effective sisal within the world. This is often essential because the whiteness means the African sisal can be dyed to different colors. Not only is the African sisal easy to dye, it’s also a smoother yarn, different in texture from its American cousin. Sisal is additionally now grown in China but their sisal is shorter and hairier, with a much bigger variation in shade.

To grow to the optimum, Sisal needs that hot, dry climate we mentioned (which is why it’s favored in Africa and China). The fabric that it produces has plenty of elasticity, so it’s easy to weave with.