WOLOF WEAVERS OF RURAL SENEGAL
This coil style of basket weaving has been practiced in Senegal for generations. Traditionally, Wolof women created baskets by binding stalks of cattail grass, a thick local grass, with long strips of reed. Though reed strips could be harvested locally, they were very hard on the hands of the weavers. About 20 years ago, an idea revolutionized Wolof basket weaving. A factory in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, creates mats using plastic strips that strongly resemble the reed strips. Using the plastic strips to replace the sharp natural material, conditions for the weavers drastically improved and the baskets began to burst into vibrant colors.
Since 2008, Swahili has worked with a group of talented Wolof weavers in remote Senegal to design hampers and baskets woven from the salvaged plastic strips and cattail stalks. First introduced by the Peace Corps, Swahili and more than 120 Wolof women prove that cooperative, home-based craft export is an excellent way for rural women to earn fair trade incomes that build healthy communities.
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$68.00
Measuring 70" long, these handmade table runners are created by weaving dried twigs through through hand-dyed mudcloth fabric.
Two lengths of twigs are used to create visual contrast. The fabric is a thick canvas that has been dyed using a mudcloth technique in Mali.
Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions: 16"W x 70"L
Crafted from: Dried twigs, cotton, dye
Made in: Mali
About the Artisans:
Mali Chic is a collaboration of 195 artisans that sells its products through a boutique in Bamako and through international exports. Artisans work from home, in their own workshops or on-site at Mali Chic.
$88.00
These authentic African mud cloths are handmade by artisans in Mali who grow and weave their own cotton. Each cloth is hand-dyed with fermented mud that has been stained with plant leaves.
The fabric features hemmed edges on two sides and can be used as a table cloth, wall hanging, or throw blanket.
Measures 44"W x 70"L. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, design will vary. For best care, hand wash in cool water and air dry.
About the Artisans:
Mali Chic is a collaboration of 195 artisans that sells its products through a boutique in Bamako and through international exports. Artisans work from home, in their own workshops or on-site at Mali Chic, and child labor is never used. Mali Chic provides artisans with 50% advances on all orders and pay a fair price for their products.
$42.00
African artisans hand-carve these servers from a single piece of olive wood, and add "twist" to each server. The servers are sanded to a smooth finish, displaying the grain patterns of the olive wood tree.
Sold singly. Handle designs will vary. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Approximate Dimensions: 11.5"L x 3.5"W
Crafted from: olive wood, sanitized salvaged cow bone, and dye
Care: Hand wash in warm water and occasionally treat with olive oil.
Made in: Kenya
About the Artisans:
We work with representatives of Kamba artists in Kenya to obtain these hand-carved works of beauty derived from the olive wood tree. The artisans benefit greatly from the sale of their works, with marked improvements being seen for the individual, their families, the community.
$68.00
Measuring 70" long, this handmade table runner with its modern graphics is created by weaving dried twigs through through hand-dyed mudcloth fabric.
Two lengths of twigs are used to create visual contrast. The fabric is a thick canvas that has been dyed using a mudcloth technique in Mali.
Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions: 16"W x 70"L
Crafted from: Dried twigs, cotton, dye
Made in: Mali
About the Artisans:
Mali Chic is a collaboration of 195 artisans that sells its products through a boutique in Bamako and through international exports. Artisans work from home, in their own workshops or on-site at Mali Chic.
$20.00
Easy to grip and use, these small servers bring the beauty of African olive wood to your table. Each server is crafted from a single piece of wood and features a seamless, spiral handle that reveals the carving skills of Kenyan Kamba artisans.
Hand wash in warm water, dry promptly and rub with oil before storage.
Dimensions: 8"L x 2.5"W
Crafted from: olive wood
Made in: Kenya
About the Artisans:
We work with representatives of Kamba artists in Kenya to obtain these hand-carved works of beauty derived from the olive wood tree. The artisans benefit greatly from the sale of their works, with marked improvements being seen for the individual, their families, the community.
$188.00
Add storage with classic style in any room of your home with this set of tall, white hamper baskets with a slightly tapered silhouette. The set features two nesting sizes, woven from sustainable natural grasses and white 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: 19"L x 19"W x 22"H
Small: 15"L x 15"W x 17"H
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.
$68.00
This giraffe sculpture is handcrafted from colorful discarded flip flops that have been carved and cemented together by artisans in Kenya.
These statement sculptures are a colorful and eco-friendly way to recycle flip flops that would otherwise litter urban Nairobi or sit in landfills. We work directly with a small co-op of Kenyan artisans who collect, clean and transform foam footwear into bold modern safari art sculptures.
Each sculpture is one-of-a-kind and varies from the one pictured.
Dimensions: 9"L x 5"W x 20"H
Crafted from: Recycled flip flop foam, glue
Made in: Kenya
Additional shipping charges may apply. Visit our Shipping FAQ.
About the Artisans:
In Kenya, artisans convert discarded flip flops into one-of-a-kind art. Operating from a small Nairobi workshop, the dedicated group offers employment and creative opportunities while also keeping flip flop foam out of the landfills.
$325.00
This handsome set of handcrafted baskets offers three amply sized storage hampers in our most popular color to coordinate with any decor: solid white! Each basket is carefully handmade by a talented Wolof woman in rural Senegal.
These durable, beautifully crafted baskets brighten any room of your home while providing an impressive amount of storage.
Size: [Large] 28"T x 18"D. [Medium] 22"T x 16"D x [Small] 19-20"T x 13-14"D. Measurements include lid. Because this is a handcrafted item, each basket will vary slightly.
$32.00
Senegalese craftswomen weave cattail stalks with strips of plastic to create these decorative storage baskets.
This basket features a low, wide profile with a fitted lid, ideal for tabletop storage. Due to the handcrafted nature of this item, size may vary slightly.
Fair trade and handmade.
Dimensions: 11"L x 11"W x 5"H
Crafted from: Typha (cattails), plastic strips
Made in: Senegal
$68.00
This visually striking 70" long table runner with its natural tones is created by weaving dried twigs through through hand-dyed mudcloth fabric.
Two lengths of twigs are used to create visual contrast. The fabric is a thick canvas that has been dyed using a mudcloth technique in Mali.
Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
Dimensions: 16"W x 70"L
Crafted from: Dried twigs, cotton, dye
Made in: Mali
About the Artisans:
Mali Chic is a collaboration of 195 artisans that sells its products through a boutique in Bamako and through international exports. Artisans work from home, in their own workshops or on-site at Mali Chic.
$15.00
The rich color and grain of wild olive wood complements the unique, organic shape of our African chopsticks, which are carved by hand by artisans in Kenya. Fair trade.
Sold in a pair of 2 chopsticks. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly. Made from wild olive wood.
Approximate Size: 8"L
Made in: Kenya
Care: Hand wash in warm water and occasionally rub with olive oil.
About the Artisans:
We work with representatives of Kamba artists in Kenya to obtain these hand-carved works of beauty derived from the olive wood tree. The artisans benefit greatly from the sale of their works, with marked improvements being seen for the individual, their families, the community.
