SAKAFU: Black and White Woven Sisal Rug
You won’t find two SAKAFU mats the same. Dip-dying and tie-dying sisal grass by hand creates a fabulous cloud-streaked effect in soothing shades of black, grey and white. Use in your hallway, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom.
We have teamed up with a weaver named Bernard in bringing these mats and runners to The Basket Room. Bernard produces each one of these sisal mats himself on a hand-loom, having learned this complicated craft through a UN-funded project over twenty years ago.
Sisal is a fibrous grass often used for producing rope. Once harvested, its leaves are split, rolled and dyed by hand before Bernard meticulously works them through the loom to create a fine, flat weave that feels lovely underfoot. Weaving on a hand-loom is particularly physical and complex work, so it’s far less popular amongst weavers than traditional basket weaving. Bernard’s mats and runners are works of a rare craft, and by bringing one home you help to protect and promote this whilst supporting his livelihood.
Weaving isn’t Bernard’s main job. Like the majority of the weavers we partner with in Kenya and across Africa, farming is his mainstay. During times of drought, mat weaving gives him the opportunity to earn a fair and reliable wage through flexible work.
Meet Bernard in our film, The Last Loom Weaver
Material: SISAL & BRANDED LEATHER TAB
Dimensions: L:130cm x W80cm approx
It is advised to use a non-slip underlay if positioning the mat on a slippery surface (laminated or stripped floorboards and tiles).
Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs.
FAIR TRADE AND HANDMADE IN KENYA
Our journey into sustainable style began in Kenya, and the lion’s share of our woven baskets are Kenyan-made. Whilst every region of Kenya boasts its own rich natural bounty, each cooperative we partner with offers expertise in its own unique form of basketry. Weaving, dyeing and grass-rolling techniques differ across the regions as much as basket shapes, patterns and structures. These precious crafts are woven through the generations within families - passed along continuous thread from mother to daughter - protecting and preserving an art form as old as man.
Vast and colourful, vibrant and bursting with natural beauty and style, our fair trade baskets are as eclectic as their homeland and its people. From sisal grass to doum palm, banana leaf fibres to palm leaf, each weaving cooperative works with what is locally available and only what can be sustainably sourced, to produce beautiful baskets which are 100% Kenyan made, and ethically produced. All cow hide bag tags, straps, and basket labels are made from leather sourced as a by-product of the food industry. Natural dyes come from pounded roots, bark and vegetables of the region, whilst all synthetic dyes are sustainably sourced.
From the Kamba tribe to the camel-herding Ariaal pastoralists of Northern Kenya, you can read more about the lives of the Kenyan weavers we work with - and the wonderful baskets they produce - below.
Meet The Artisans
Who Made Your Basket?
Delivery Info
LAST POSTING DATES 2023
Please note our last dispatch day will be Thursday 21st December.
We will be closed from Friday 22nd December until Wednesday 3rd January 2024. Any orders placed after 2pm on Thursday 21st December and before 11am on Thursday 28th December, will be dispatched on Thursday 28th December. Orders placed after 11am on Thursday 28th December will be dispatched Wednesday 3rd January 2024.
For Christmas Deliveries, please note the order cut off dates below.
UK
DPD Standard - Please order by 2pm on Wednesday 20th December
DPD Express Next Day - Please order by 2pm on Thursday 21st December
DPD Express Next Day by 12pm - Please order by 2pm on Thursday 21st December
DPD Saturday Delivery - Please order by 2pm on Thursday 21st December
Royal Mail Tracked 48 - Please order by 2pm on Monday 18th December
Royal Mail Tracked 24 - Please order by 2pm on Tuesday 19th December
EUROPE
| COUNTRY | ORDER BY |
| AUSTRIA | 15th December |
| BELGIUM | 18th December |
| CROATIA | 14th December |
| DENMARK | 18th December |
| FINLAND | 13th December |
| FRANCE | 18th December |
| GERMANY | 15th December |
| ITALY | 14th December |
| LUXEMBOURG | 19th December |
| NETHERLANDS | 19th December |
| NORWAY | 12th December |
| ROI | 20th December |
| SPAIN | 15th December |
| SWEDEN | 18th December |
| SWITZERLAND | 18th December |
USA, AUSTRALIA & CANADA
Please place your orders by the 12th December
EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS
For parcels to European destinations please allow 5 days for delivery.
We are pleased to announce that from 22nd July 2021 we will be sending all European customer orders delivered duty paid (DDP). This means most EU based customers will no longer have to pay any additional import duty or taxes before receiving their orders.
Due to in country export changes the following countries will be subject to additional charges to receive their order. We will also require a personal tax number for dispatch:
Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain
UK DELIVERY
We aim to dispatch all orders within 1 working day*, once your payment has been confirmed.
For orders £20 and under:
- Royal Mail Tracked 48 at £ 2.95
- Royal Mail Tracked 24 at £ 3.45
- DPD Standard (1-2 working days) at £ 4.95
- DPD Express Next Day (order by 2pm) at £6.95
- DPD Express Next Day by 12pm (order by 2pm) at £12.95
- DPD Saturday Delivery (order by 2pm on the Friday) at £10.95
For orders £20.01 and over
- DPD Standard (1-2 working days) at £ 4.95
- DPD Express Next Day (order by 2pm) at £6.95
- DPD Express Next Day by 12pm (order by 2pm) at £12.95
- DPD Saturday Delivery (order by 2pm on the Friday) at £10.95
FREE Delivery for orders £50 and over
- DPD Standard (1-2 working days) FREE
Free Click and Collect:
- Available from our Oxfordshire based office (address below) select pickup option at checkout. Pick up available during office hours of Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, you will be notified by email once your order is ready for collection.
9 Worcester Rd Ind. Estate
Chipping Norton
OX7 5XW
Tel: 01608 239482
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY
We deliver worldwide, postage prices are based on the total weight of your order, calculated at the checkout. Most services are sent Tracked & Signed unless otherwise stated.
Please note, most countries will charge import duty on goods over a certain value, it is the buyer's responsibility to pay any charges that occur on importation at destination.
If you cannot see your country listed, please contact sales@thebasketroom.com to provide you with a shipping quote.
WHAT IF IT DOESN'T ARRIVE
It is very rare that items will get lost in the post. If there is no sign of your basket after 10 days, the plan of action is:
- Check the shipping address on your order confirmation.
- Check with your neighbours – sometimes the courier will leave parcels with your close neighbours.
- If no luck, please contact us and we will try to help solve the problem
COLLECTION FROM AN EVENT
Collection of your baskets direct from a fair or event that we're exhibiting may be possible. Please phone Holly on 01608 239482 to arrange it with 48 hrs advance notice. In this case, postage costs will be refunded.
CANCELLATION OF ORDER
You have the right to cancel your order, however if the order has already been processed and shipped by The Basket Room, you will need to follow the standard returns procedure. Please let us know as soon as possible.
HANDWOVEN BASKET DISCLAIMER
All of our baskets are exquisitely handmade in remote rural corners of Africa using natural materials, one piece at a time, with no two baskets the same. Although every effort is made to create only the best product, there may be natural blemishes or bumps and curves in places, as well as patches of dirt that can be sometimes noticed on the recycled wool sisal mix baskets. These should not be misconstrued as flaws, but are what make each basket a handmade product, charming and unique.
In addition to this, as each basket is individually hand woven some variation in size and colour may occur. If you need a specific size please let us know prior to placing your order. By purchasing this product online, you agree with these disclaimers.
STORING YOUR BASKET
If your basket gets wet, simply leave it to dry naturally and re-shape. When not in use, we recommend storing somewhere completely dry and warm (and damp proof!)
As dyes are natural, colours may fade over time if basket is in direct sunlight.
Please be aware as the baskets are made of grass any areas in the home where there may be moisture in the air could cause your basket to grow mould.
When using our baskets as planters or to cover plastic pots, please ensure a plastic dish is used in the bottom to catch any excess water as the sisal may rot and dyes may run.
RETURNS
If you decide you don’t like your basket we will be happy to accept returns, and refund you for the item as long as it is returned to us within 21 days of purchase. Returned products must be in the same condition as was received, complete with original swing tags and labels attached. Where possible, please include a note or brief reason for return. Unfortunately we can’t refund the cost of shipping and we do require you to pay for the postage of your returned items. Used or customer damaged items cannot be refunded or exchanged. We advise you to send this as recorded post, or keep a copy of proof of postage in the event that the package goes missing.
If your basket arrives with you damaged from the post on it's way out to you, and you would like to return it, we will of course be happy to reimburse for the item and the cost of shipping as long as you let us know about the damaged basket within 1 week of receiving your item/s.
All returns should be sent to:
9 Worcester Road Industrial Estate
Chipping Norton
OX7 5XW
Tel: 01608 239482
