RAHISI: Natural Square Storage Baskets

These ethical, square storage baskets are hand woven in Tanzania from local milulu grass. They make perfect planters look fantastic all over the home, keeping everything from loo rolls to newspapers, magazines, paperwork and toiletries tidy. The weavers themselves use these baskets in their homes for keeping kitchen staples like maize, potatoes and beans dry. 

RAHISI was produced by a talented weaver working as part of a cooperative of around 580 members. These baskets are woven from reeds found in riverbeds and swampland, though many cooperatives now grow their own reeds, having purchased the raw materials with profits from basket sales.

Most weavers are primarily farmers, and work is scarce during the dry seasons when it can become impossible to make ends meet. Weavers earn a pre-agreed wage for each basket they produce, and this money helps pay children’s school fees and family medical bills, enabling women to work flexibly and fit weaving in around other jobs and duties.

Profits from basket sales are reinvested for business development. Communities buy things like solar lighting and kerosene lamps for working late, as well as new land and warehouses for making and storing baskets with proceeds from sales. Cooperative leaders also organise frequent product development training as well as healthcare education.

Material: MILULU GRASS

Dimensions (approx):

XS: 12cm W x 12cm D x 12cm H

S: 15cm W x 15cm D x 15cm H

M: 20cm W x 20cm D x 20cm H

L: 25cm W x 25cm D x 25cm H

XL: 30cm W x 30cm D x 30cm H

Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs.

 Baskets may not be perfectly square, especially on smaller sizes where this is particularly hard to achieve.

HANDMADE IN TANZANIA