Flaunting vertical stripes in a soft lavender hue, these beautiful UMEME baskets are handwoven in rural Kenya from local sisal. These lavender stripe baskets make excellent woven planters for all types of houseplants – a perfect new home gift for someone who loves all things purple or pastel hued! The women behind these UMEME striped woven baskets practise this traditional craft within a small weaving group in rural Kenya. The Basket Room visit and spend time with these women as often as they can, and have built a strong bond with the craftswomen and their inspiring chairlady, Madam Dorcas over the years. Before they started trading with this group, the weavers would travel to Nairobi to sell their woven baskets at city markets. Today, these women can earn a reliable income from home, working to complete large and regular orders from The Basket Room during downtime between childcare, housework and farming. The lion’s share of basket production takes place during Kenya’s dry seasons and the Basket Room has developed their business to work synergistically with these seasons. Most weavers across Africa rely on farming to feed, support and clothe their families, so when farming slows down, weaving work picks up. Purchasing one of these woven baskets helps in their mission to empower African craftswomen and preserve this profitable craft. The detail... SISAL & BRANDED LEATHER TAB 17-19cm DIA x 17-19cm H Please note, as this is a handmade product, dimensions & colour may vary from those shown in the photographs. FAIR TRADE & HANDMADE IN KENYA About the designer… The Basket Room creates beautiful collections of handwoven, decorative storage baskets for the home. Woven with stunning colours & unique patterns, we work with small craft collectives in Africa to bring you ethical, stylish accessories with a story. They bring together all the values of fair trade, partnering with cooperatives in Africa that helps women to support their families more comfortably, since subsistence farming alone often fails to meet the family’s needs, particularly in the dry season. By purchasing one of these baskets you actively support these weavers’ livelihoods, and a commitment to empowering women in developing countries.