Using strands of natural sisal, women living in remote areas of rural Kenya earn income by crafting beautifully simple baskets that can be used for chic storage in any room of the home. Sisal is a natural fiber extracted from an agave plant, so the baskets are coveted for their durability and ability to be re-shaped.

Sold individually. Choose from Medium or Large.

Approximate measurements: Medium 14" wide x 10" tall (to top of basket), 14" tall including handles. Large 16" wide x 10" tall (to top of basket), 14" tall including handles. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, some variation may occur.

About the Artisans:

In the rural Kenyan countryside around the city of Kitui, women specialize in weaving the tough fibers of the agave sisalana plant. Sisal's spiky leaf clusters erupt from a dry landscape and often requires long journeys to gather. Once woven, these baskets are sold to local and international markets. Singing, dancing, and chatting make weaving for export an enjoyable social event!

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This eye-catching copper disc bracelet is handcrafted by young self-taught Zambian women of F.R.E.E (Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) using copper recycled from used water heaters and wire, sometimes adding a patina. Defying gender norms by becoming metalsmiths for jewelry-making, these women showcase modern Zambian skill in their F.R.E.E. Woman jewelry.

Sold singly. A matching necklace and earrings are available. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions: 1"W x 9"L (from end to end, unclasped). Length can be adjusted at closure.

Crafted from: Copper

Made in: Zambia

About the Artisans:

F.R.E.E (Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) started as a group of young, inexperienced women, with no previous jewelry making experience and defying gender norms, who taught themselves metalsmithing using copper. Using copper recycled from used water heaters and wire, they transform it into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Their skills have continually expanded, and some women have trained in silversmithing.

F.R.E.E. Woman jewelry showcases modern Zambian skill in eye-catching wearable art such as this necklace with copper abstract leaf shapes - some with a patina and some without. It's hung on a leather cord with a clasp. Using copper recycled from used water heaters and wire, young self-taught Zambian women of F.R.E.E. (Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) are defying gender norms becoming metalsmiths for jewelry-making.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions: 4.5"W x 9"H (total height)

Crafted from: Copper

Made in: Zambia

About the Artisans:

F.R.E.E (Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) started as a group of young, inexperienced women, with no previous jewelry making experience and defying gender norms, who taught themselves metalsmithing using copper. Using copper recycled from used water heaters and wire, they transform it into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Their skills have continually expanded, and some women have trained in silversmithing.

Using copper recycled from used water heaters or wire, along with silver mined by small scale miners from an old silver mine in Kabwe, young self-taught Zambian women of F.R.E.E (Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) are defying gender norms becoming metalsmiths for jewelry-making. F.R.E.E. Woman jewelry showcases modern Zambian skill in eye-catching wearable art such as this copper and silver disc necklace, hung from a leather cord with a hook clasp.

Measures 2.5"W x 15"L (total length), 10" drop. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly. Matching earrings are available.

About the Artisans:

F.R.E.E (Foundation for the Realization of Economic Empowerment) started as a group of young, inexperienced women, with no previous jewelry making experience and defying gender norms, who taught themselves metalsmithing using copper. Using copper recycled from used water heaters and wire, they transform it into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Their skills have continually expanded, and some women have trained in silversmithing.

Empowering women in East Africa through entrepreneurship, The Leakey Collection is also providing support to help their female Maasai neighbors build businesses benefiting their families, beginning with a high-yield, low-impact dairy cattle program.

This Women-Owned Multi-Strand Necklace combines 16 Zulugrass strands in vivid shades of red and fuschia. Each necklace features beautiful fallen acacia wood beads and is strung on a black satin cord that can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the necklace's drape. The necklace can be adjusted to a total length of 33" and has a matching Multi-Strand Bracelet. Zulugrass strands are made from sustainable, natural grass beads, dyed with colorfast, low-impact dyes and interspersed with hand-blown Czech glass. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.

The Leakey Collection's goal has always been empowering women in East Africa through work opportunity and now is providing additional entrepreneurship support to help their female Maasai neighbors build businesses through the proceeds of this bracelet. They will begin with a high-yield, low-impact dairy cattle program.

To wear, wrap the 26" Zulugrass strand, made from sustainable, natural grass beads, around your wrist 3-4 times. The richly hued grass is dyed with colorfast, low-impact dyes and interspersed with hand-blown Czech glass. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.

This new Rise Up Cause Bracelet will initially benefit Grace, a former participant in The Leakey Collection's Girls Graduation mentoring program, as she pursues a teaching certification. Helping women transform their lives is the goal of The Leakey Collection. 

To wear, wrap the 26" Zulugrass strand, made from sustainable, natural grass beads, around your wrist 3-4 times. The richly hued grass is dyed with colorfast, low-impact dyes and interspersed with hand-blown Czech glass. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.

Songa Designs International empowers a new generation of women in Rwanda by combining their traditional weaving skills with modern design to craft these beautiful sisal baskets. Inspired by nature, each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as sisal fibers and can be used for storing fruit and vegetables, serving bread or organizing toys.

Sold individually. Size: Small 10"D x 2.5"T; Large 12"D x 3"T. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, some variation may occur.

About the Artisans:

It is typical for many women in developing countries to depend solely on their husbands for financial needs, but Songa Designs International is changing this dynamic. By working for Songa, under-resourced women are encouraged to pursue economic independence, simply by using skills acquired through everyday life. Songa Designs provides jobs for over 150 women who in turn negotiate their own salaries and earn fair wages, which enables them to buy land, health insurance or send their children to school for the first time. Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

Made in small batches by a co-op of South Sudanese women, this Charcoal Facial Soap is a mix of Lulu Life virgin shea butter, sheep milk, activated charcoal, saponified lye, and tea tree essential oil for scent and clarifying.

Lulu Life is an organic, Grade A virgin shea butter that is produced using nuts from the vitellaria nilotica tree, which grows only in remote East Africa. Most shea butter comes from West African shea trees and is sold as a hard solid. East African shea butter is silky and harder to procure, and considered a precious luxury good. Lulu Shea Butter is made from nuts that are collected, cracked, sorted, dried, ground by hand and cold-pressed (avoiding even the slightest trace of chemical contamination).

Sold singly wrapped in cotton fabric. Patterns will vary.

Dimensions: 2"L x 2"W x 1"H

Crafted from: Virgin shea butter, sheep milk, activated charcoal, saponified lye, and tea tree essential oil

Made in: South Sudan

About the Artisans:

Founded in 2000, Lulu Works is a non-profit trust established to provide a source of sustainable income for the women of South Sudan. Comprised of women-owned processing centers, Lulu Works ensures that the profit from the production and sale of Lulu Life products returns to these women. It also provides an incentive to protect the natural shea butter resource.

Vitellaria nilotica tree grows across South Sudan in thick forests and takes 20 years to bear its first fruit. These forests are untouched by chemicals or fertilizers.

Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, skilled basket-weavers in Rwanda, East Africa craft stylish, high-quality baskets inspired by nature. Tightly woven, these baskets can be used for storing fruit and vegetables, serving bread, organizing toys or just hanging on your wall to add for unique home decoration.

Size: Small 10"D x 2.5"T; Large 12"D x 3.5"T.

Due to the handcrafted nature of these items, some variation may occur.

About the Artisans:

It is typical for many women in developing countries to depend solely on their husbands for financial needs, but Songa Designs International is changing this dynamic. By working for Songa, under-resourced women are encouraged to pursue economic independence, simply by using skills acquired through everyday life. Songa Designs provides jobs for over 150 women who in turn negotiate their own salaries and earn fair wages, which enables them to buy land, health insurance or send their children to school for the first time. Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

The Leakey Collection dedicates proceeds from these specially designed 26" Zulugrass strands to their Girls Graduation program to counsel young rural girls and their families on the importance of staying in school. Each strand is packaged on a special tag, explaining how the proceeds will be allocated, and can be worn wrapped 3-4 times around your wrist or ankle or even long as a necklace.

Zulugrass 26" single strands are made from sustainable, natural grass beads. The richly hued grass is dyed with colorfast, low-impact dyes and interspersed with hand-blown Czech glass. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected. Zulugrass is as creative as the individual who wears it!

Songa Designs International empowers a new generation of women in Rwanda, combining traditional weaving skills with modern design to craft these tightly woven sisal baskets. Inspired by nature, each handmade item handwoven with all-natural materials and can be used for storing fruit and vegetables, serving bread or organizing toys.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:
Small: 10"L x 10"W x 2.5"H
Large: 12"L x 12"W x 3"H

Crafted from: Banana fiber, sisal

Made in: Rwanda

About the Artisans:

It is typical for many women in developing countries to depend solely on their husbands for financial needs, but Songa Designs International is changing this dynamic. By working for Songa, under-resourced women are encouraged to pursue economic independence, simply by using skills acquired through everyday life. Songa Designs provides jobs for over 150 women who in turn negotiate their own salaries and earn fair wages, which enables them to buy land, health insurance or send their children to school for the first time. Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

These useful rare baskets are woven by Samburu and Rendille women in remote northern Kenya. Called "nomadic baskets," the baskets are styled for the modern home but based on traditional designs used for the storage of camel's milk.

Nomadic baskets are sold in three useful nesting sizes and are adorned with white beads. Because these baskets are handcrafted, each will vary slightly.

Each basket is tightly knit and is designed to last a lifetime. [L] 7"D x 5"T [M] 5.5"D x 4"T [S] 4.5"D x 4"T. 

About the Artisans:

For the pastoral communities of northern Kenya, life pivots on the coming of rain and the survival of livestock. When the skies open, the landscape becomes lush and fragrant. Cattle and goats drink and forage near home and families stay together. In times of drought, warriors must travel far to find water for their herds, leaving women and children at home alone to endure dry seasons of unknown length as the streams, earth and trees dry around them.

Where they were once only allowed to own milk, Samburu women now own camels, plus they earn income by making baskets, processing meat and hides, keeping bees and refining honey. Through this shift in property control and a general increase in literacy in the region, Samburu women have become valued contributing community members.

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Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, skilled basket-weavers in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality sisal baskets inspired by nature. Tightly woven, these baskets can be used for storing fruit and vegetables, serving bread, organizing toys or just hanging on your wall to add for unique home decoration.

Sold singly. A larger size is also available. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:
Small: 10"L x 10"W x 2.5"H
Large: 12"L x 12"W x 3.5"H

Crafted from: Banana fiber, raffia

Made in: Rwanda

About the Artisans:

It is typical for many women in developing countries to depend solely on their husbands for financial needs, but Songa Designs International is changing this dynamic. By working for Songa, under-resourced women are encouraged to pursue economic independence, simply by using skills acquired through everyday life. Songa Designs provides jobs for over 150 women who in turn negotiate their own salaries and earn fair wages, which enables them to buy land, health insurance or send their children to school for the first time. Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

These useful rare baskets are woven by Samburu and Rendille women in remote northern Kenya. Called "nomadic baskets," the baskets are styled for the modern home but based on traditional designs used for the storage of camel's milk.

Nomadic baskets are sold in three useful nesting sizes. Because these baskets are handcrafted, each will vary slightly. Each basket is tightly knit and is designed to last a lifetime.

Large: 7"D x 5"H
Medium: 5.5"D x 4"H
Small: 4.5"D x 4"H

About the Artisans:

For the pastoral communities of northern Kenya, life pivots on the coming of rain and the survival of livestock. When the skies open, the landscape becomes lush and fragrant. Cattle and goats drink and forage near home and families stay together. In times of drought, warriors must travel far to find water for their herds, leaving women and children at home alone to endure dry seasons of unknown length as the streams, earth and trees dry around them.

Where they were once only allowed to own milk, Samburu women now own camels, plus they earn income by making baskets, processing meat and hides, keeping bees and refining honey. Through this shift in property control and a general increase in literacy in the region, Samburu women have become valued contributing community members.

Songa Designs International empowers a new generation of women in Rwanda by combining their traditional weaving skills with modern design to craft these beautiful sisal baskets. Inspired by nature, each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as sisal fibers and can be used for storing fruit and vegetables, serving bread or organizing toys.

Sold singly. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:
Small: 10"L x 10"W x 2.5"H
Large: 12"D x 3"T

About the Artisans:

It is typical for many women in developing countries to depend solely on their husbands for financial needs, but Songa Designs International is changing this dynamic. By working for Songa, under-resourced women are encouraged to pursue economic independence, simply by using skills acquired through everyday life. Songa Designs provides jobs for over 150 women who in turn negotiate their own salaries and earn fair wages, which enables them to buy land, health insurance or send their children to school for the first time. Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

Talented women in rural Rwanda use abundant, natural banana and sisal fibers to weave useful baskets for the home. This basket features a cream-colored sunburst on a field of black and tan. The petite size has many uses—use your basket to hold jewelry, bedside essentials like lip balm, or keys, or use the hanging loop on the back to add it to a wall display.

Sold individually. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly. Made from banana fiber and sisal.

Approximate Size: 7-8" wide x 2" deep

Made in: Rwanda

About the Artisans:

Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

Talented women in rural Rwanda use abundant, natural banana and sisal fibers to weave useful baskets for the home. This basket features a cream-colored sunburst on a field of soft blue-green and tan.

The petite size has many uses: use your basket to hold jewelry, bedside essentials like lip balm, or keys, or use the hanging loop on the back to add it to a wall display.

Sold individually. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly. Made from banana fiber and sisal.

Approximate Size: 7-8" wide x 2" deep

Made in: Rwanda

About the Artisans:

Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

Talented women in rural Rwanda use abundant, natural banana and sisal fibers to weave useful baskets for the home. This basket features assorted triangles of bright peach, cream, and soft blue-green on tan.

The petite size has many uses: use your basket to hold jewelry, bedside essentials like lip balm, or keys, or use the hanging loop on the back to add it to a wall display.

Sold individually. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly. Made from banana fiber and sisal.

Approximate Size: 7-8" wide x 2" deep

Made in: Rwanda

About the Artisans:

Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.

Crafted by internally displaced women living in a camp in a remote area of South Sudan, this intricate glass beading represents the blossoming of hope for brighter future for their children.

Each ornament is individually packaged and ready for gift-giving in a MADE51 box, complete with an artisan story card.

Size: 2.5"

Materials: Glass beads and wire

Note: These products are handmade and there will be slight variations in shape, size, and color.

About the Artisans:

"Refugees have skills and talents that only need a chance to grow and flourish. Within each piece lies a story of history and culture, and the chance for a person who has fled war and persecution to offer something of beauty and style to the world." - Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

MADE51 is a global initiative brought to life by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Each ornament in the MADE51 Holiday Collection tells a story about the cultural heritage of its maker. These beautiful crafts are windows into the diversity and talent of refugee artisans around the world. They fill homes with meaning, as symbols of solidarity, empowerment and hope.

Add storage with classic style in any room of your home with this set of hamper baskets finished with soft leather trim. The set features two nesting sizes, woven from sustainable natural grasses and warm yellow plastic strips repurposed from a prayer mat factory in Dakar, Senegal. These fair trade baskets are made by Wolof women in remote Senegal, who earn a sustainable income through weaving.

Sold as a set of two. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:

Large: 20"T x 19"W

Small: 18"T x 17"W

Crafted from: Typha (cattail) stalks, plastic

Made in: Senegal

Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected in size and shape. Read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.

Add storage with classic style in any room of your home with this set of hamper baskets finished with soft leather trim. The set features two nesting sizes, woven from sustainable natural grasses and black plastic strips repurposed from a prayer mat factory in Dakar, Senegal. These fair trade baskets are made by Wolof women in remote Senegal, who earn a sustainable income through weaving.

Sold as a set of two. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions:

Large: 20"T x 19"W

Small: 18"T x 17"W

Crafted from: Typha (cattail) stalks, plastic

Made in: Senegal

Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected in size and shape. Read our Statement on Handmade Variation to learn more. Fair trade.

Talented women in rural Rwanda utilize abundant natural fibers to create useful baskets for the home. Woven with gorgeous assorted colors and designs, these sweet little baskets can be incorporated into a wall display, or used for holding assorted items on the tabletop. They also make fantastic small gift baskets.

Sold singly in assorted colors and patterns. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.

Dimensions: 7-8"L x 7-8"W x 2"H

Crafted from: Raffia and banana fibers

Made in: Rwanda

About the Artisans:

Trained by generations of local cultural tradition, the skilled artisans in Rwanda in East Africa craft stylish, high-quality accessories inspired by nature. Each handmade item is tightly woven with all-natural materials such as banana leaf fiber or sisal plants.