BUSUNU: Natural Woven Shopping Basket
Meet the BUSUNU collection - our newest African shopping baskets, ethically and sustainably handwoven in Northern Ghana.
These carry-handle market baskets come in three handy sizes and are produced in the Bolgatanga area of Ghana. All are made from veta vera grass which grows wild locally and is incredibly robust when woven - a stylish and sustainable alternative to plastic.
Most of the weavers who produce these woven basket bags are men, having been taught the art of basket weaving from their own mothers and fathers. Most of these men are farmers first and foremost, but the dry seasons make it increasingly difficult to make a reliable income from the land. Basket weaving brings these people the opportunity to earn a flexible second income.
It is our mission to build relationships with the most talented weavers across Africa, and we’re glad to be offering more work to these weavers as our Ghanaian collection expands to include these fair trade market baskets. Want to know more about the Ghanaian weavers? Click here.
Material: VETA VERA GRASS
Dimensions:
Small: H27-29cm x L32-34cm x W18-20cm
Medium: H32-34cm x L34-36cm x W19-21cm
Large: H36-38cm x L37-39cm x W22-24cm
Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs.
FAIR TRADE & HANDMADE IN GHANA
Our Ghanaian woven baskets are a celebration of Northern Ghana’s abundant natural raw material, and the age-old weaving skills of its people: sustainable style and ethical production, through and through. In our ongoing commitment to fair trade, our baskets are produced from natural materials indigenous to the region they are woven in.
Home of the hardy veta vera grass, Ghana is where our collections of sturdier, stiffer baskets are made: woven bike baskets, square, rectangular and circular storage baskets, bolga shopping baskets, dog baskets and baby Moses baskets. Where Kenyan sisal grass creates supple and pliable baskets and bags, Ghanaian veta vera grass produces more structured baskets.We partner with 24 weaving cooperatives and over 1000 weavers in Ghana, both male and female. This portable and flexible craft means that weavers can take their work home with them if preferred, completing their weaving around other household tasks and duties to create truly fair trade baskets. Bicycle baskets and storage baskets generally take around three days to complete, and the process – as you will see from the pictures – is meticulous.
"We wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the customers who buy our baskets, which create employment for our women in Ghana. We say thank you and we wish to continue to do business with you next year." - Asabila, Cooperative Manager – Ghana
Shop the Log Basket Collection here.
Shop the Art Basket Collection here.
Shop the Bike Basket collection here.
Shop the Square, Rectangular and Circular Floor Storage Basket collection here.
Shop the Moses Basket Collection here.
Shop the Bolga Shopping Basket collection here.
Shop the Dog Basket collection here.
