NYUMBA: Black and Natural Lidded Storage Baskets
Description
Woven from reed-like milulu grasses found in swamps and riverbeds, our NYUMBA baskets are hand woven with black patterned stripes against a natural base. Ethical and practical, these lidded baskets make ideal home storage for the kitchen, the bathroom and even the nursery. In their homeland of Tanzania, these woven baskets are used for storing things like maize and potatoes.
Basket weaving as part of a cooperative empowers women. Its business model offers flexible and fairly paid work - the opportunity to earn a vital, additional income during the dry seasons when crops fail and livestock suffer. These craftswomen pay their children’s school fees and family medical bills with earnings from basket sales, as well as purchasing school uniform and making essential home improvements. Many weavers use proceeds from their second income to invest in crops and livestock, too.
Profits from basket sales are reinvested by the cooperatives for the community’s benefit. Groups are able to purchase solar lighting and kerosene lamps so that they can continue to weave after dark, and some cooperatives have built basket warehouses with their profits. To purchase one of these beautiful fair trade baskets is to become a patron and protector of this vital craft.
Material: MILULU GRASS
Dimensions (approx):
XS: 12-14cm DIA x 10-14cm H
S: 15-20cm DIA x 15-17cm H
M: 22-25cm DIA x 18-20cm H
L: 26-30cm DIA x 22-25cm H
Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs.
FAIR TRADE AND HANDMADE IN TANZANIA
Our Tanzanian woven baskets make use of the country’s versatile milulu grass and celebrate the extraordinary weaving skills found amongst the people working within its network of village cooperatives. These fair trade baskets represent true sustainable style and ethical production.
These weavers – and all the weavers we partner with - are paid a fair and pre-agreed price for each basket they produce for us. The individual, depending on their skillsets and their availability for work, can choose their own volumes of work. Being able to work from home means that weavers – mainly women - can fit weaving in with their existing jobs and chores, and no income is lost travelling to sell at markets where haggling can reduce earnings considerably. Working as part of a weaving cooperative means that the business comes to them, and regular training is given so that the group can keep abreast of market trends, and stay competitive.
These woven baskets are familiar utility items in Tanzanian homes, woven to hold foodstuffs primarily. They find their place all over the modern home, bringing bags of ethical style and natural beauty to the kitchen or bathroom, living room, the utility room and the playroom.
Shop the Natural Collection here
United KingdomBeautiful basket
I'm so pleased with my new basket. Everything from ordering to delivery was perfect. Thank you!
The Basket Room
Thank you for your review. We are glad to hear your shopping experience was a positive one! Thanks for shopping with The Basket Room
United StatesBeautiful and sturdy handiwork!
Just as pictured, a beautiful weave-pattern. Very skillfully made, good structure that will last and last.
The Basket Room
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and shopping with The Basket Room. We hope you enjoy your basket!
