Description
HANDWOVEN SISAL BASKETS
Each has been made with 100% local sustainably-sourced sisal fibre. Each one layered with woven stories.
We are so proud to support this self-help group of talented women artisans in Kenya.
Approximately 27cm height and 27cm diameter
Watch this inspiring video to see how these women work and what your support means to them
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.
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