HEATH: Smoky Grey & Natural Handwoven Placemat
Ethically handwoven from lutindzi grasses in rural Swaziland, these exquisite round placemats boast a smoky grey coloured rim encircling a base of natural fibre. These can be purchased individually, and mixed and matched with our wider range of stunning Swazi tableware.
This wiry grass grows wild in the mountainous regions of Swaziland. Lutindzi is naturally waxy in nature which makes it water and stain-resistant and therefore ideal for tableware. We suggest pairing these round placemats with LAVUSIMO Winter and LAVUSIMO Heath bowls as well as our set of six matching coasters.
These baskets are carefully woven by craftswomen working within fair trade cooperatives in rural Swaziland. Purchasing one of these colourful woven baskets supports the ongoing work of Gone Rural Bomake, a not for profit organisation empowering 770 artisans all over the country with the training and the means to create beautiful handicrafts from the local materials available to them. This organisation works to improve local healthcare, education and sanitation through the provision of this sustainable employment. You can meet the weavers from Swaziland here.
MATERIAL: Lutindzi Grass (Indigenous to Swaziland & grows wild in the mountains)
DIMENSIONS: 32cm W
Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs.
Price is for one placemat, please select your desired quantity from the drop-down menu.
FAIR TRADE AND ETHICALLY HANDMADE IN SWAZILAND
With the support of local charity, Gone Rural, the weavers behind these beautiful fair trade baskets and bowls are trained in various handcrafts using the traditional techniques and the raw materials locally available to them. Promoting local crafts in this way protects livelihoods and helps build viable income channels for future generations.
Gone Rural buys the lutindzi grasses from local harvesting communities and prepares it in their workshop using eco-friendly dyes, fuel-efficient burners and non-indigenous wood. The grass is then dried, weighed and bundled up before being distributed amongst the weaving communities along with basket designs so that the weavers can start their work with everything they need. Grass deliveries and orders arrive monthly on a rolling basis so that the weavers have a steady stream of reliable work, and three weeks after grass deliveries an informal market day is held in the mountains, where the production team returns to purchase finished baskets. Many artisans assemble here monthly to sell their wares: everything from baked goods to second-hand clothes and home-grown vegetables, as well as these woven baskets.
This organisation runs vital programmes to support the weavers, their families and their communities: many mothers credit basket weaving initiatives for paying their children’s school fees, and some communities have had boreholes drilled with the proceeds from their work after wages have been paid.
Shop the Swazi Hills Tableware collection here.
United Kingdomhandwoven placemats
Beautiful mats, ordering was simple and delivery very fast with perfect packaging. The stories behind the products are wonderful. I would highly recommend these lovely products.
The Basket Room
Thank you for your review and shopping with us at The Basket Room! We're happy to hear you had a positive experience!
