ALAMA: Light Pink & Green Stripe Woven Storage Basket
Contrasting bands of pale pink and light green characterise these colour-confident, hand woven storage baskets. Introduce a splash of colour to your office space, living room or bedroom and help us preserve the precious craft of basketry.
The ALAMA collection of natural woven baskets is brand new for 2021. Hand woven from sisal grass by a member of one of four rural women's weaving groups in South Western Kenya, these decorative storage baskets come in three sizes - perfect as planters, desk tidies and flower pots as well as storage baskets for toys, jewellery, slippers and bathroom products.
Led by chairlady Mbeti, the ladies in this group of cooperatives are extremely skilled at weaving repeat patterns, using their tape measures to produce set sizes. They get together weekly to agree work, deliver completed basket orders and collect wages. Sisal grass is purchased ready-rolled when these groups receive basket orders and a deposit sum from us, and these fibres are hand-dyed outdoors in large vats of boiling water by the weavers.
These weavers are mainly farmers, so the majority of basket weaving takes place during the dry seasons when agricultural work quite literally dries up. To purchase one of our woven baskets is to become a part of our story: a journey of sustainability and empowerment, supporting women to support their families with flexible, fairly paid work. Each basket comes with a thank you card from the cooperative who made your basket. You can meet the weavers HERE.
Material: SISAL & BRANDED LEATHER TAB
Dimensions (approx):
If you need a specific size please let us know prior to placing your order.
Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs.
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?
United KingdomFantastic basket
I needed a basket to keep my shoes out of sight under my desk. This basket is perfect and super cute. I wasn’t clear with my shipping address and they kindly chased me up to make sure it got to the right spot. This will not be my last order.
The Basket Room
Thank you for your lovely review! We are glad the team were able to help get your order to the right place! Thank you for shopping with us at The Basket Room
United KingdomBeautiful baskets
Great experience and very happy with the beautiful baskets
The Basket Room
Thank you for your review. We are glad to hear you had a positive shopping experience with us! Thanks for shopping at The Basket Room
United KingdomBeautiful woven basket
Great, speedy delivery, beautiful items - one thing that could have been better is clear description as to size of items on your website. Small, medium and large doesn't really tell you much.
The Basket Room
Thank you for your review and feedback. We are always looking for ways to improve our shopping experience. Thanks for shopping with The Basket Room!
