These beautifully and thoughtfully handwoven baskets are big and strong enough for laundry, a pile of blankets, your yarn stash, or even a pile of logs + kindling for your winter fire. With a beautiful heathered beige and white coloring, theses ethically-sourced fair trade handwoven sisal and leather baskets are made by the most experienced members of the women’s weaving cooperatives in the rural Eastern Region of Kenya. 

Handwoven from the indigenous sisal plant - the stiff leaves of this fibrous shrub are often used for producing rope and twine, and undergo a lengthy process of harvesting, rolling and dyeing - all by hand - before being carefully woven. Each basket takes six days and up to forty balls of sisal to complete, while two skilled leather workers (known locally as ‘fundi’) produce the trim and handles. 

Many members of the women’s weaving cooperative in Kenya are from farming families, largely relying on unpredictable rainfall and an unreliable income. Basket weaving has become a source of alternative income for these communities during the dry seasons, helping families meet their basic living costs.

Bags generally measure 17" in diameter and height, however each basket is unique so the size may vary by a couple inches in any direction.

The Basket Room creates beautiful collections of handwoven, decorative storage baskets for the home. Woven with stunning colors  and truly unique patterns, they work with small craft collectives in Africa to bring us ethical, stylish accessories with a story.