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
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

Wonderful baskets
We love the quality and ethics behind these baskets, we will order again.

Wunderschön
Wunderschöner Korb der perfekt in meinen Waschtisch passt
The Basket Room
Thank you for your review and sending a photo! We agree, it looks perfect in your bathroom! Thanks for shopping with us at The Basket Room

Gorgeous basket - simple but elegant
Always wonderful
The Basket Room
Thank you for your review. We are glad you like your new basket! Thanks for shopping with The Basket Room

Square baskets
Enjoyable experience.
The Basket Room
Thank you for your review and shopping with us at The Basket Room!