Size: 11.8" Diameter x 11" Height

 

Strap Length: 27.5"

 

Material: Paper and Sisal

Using locally sourced material is the main reason for using sisal in our baskets and bags. Sisal plants grow in the dry soil of Kenya where no chemical fertilizers are used in production.

Compared to other fibres typical in weaving, e.g. jute, rattan, seagrass, and water hyacinth, is more durable and anti-static. Sisal also takes dying better than seagrass or water hyacinth so it can be used to create different colours of baskets and bags.

Compared to rattan, sisal is a much softer material, allowing the baskets and bags to be formed into the shape you like. 

Paper is a beautiful eco-friendly material. It can be fully recycled at the end of its lifecycle. The material is unbleached, light and durable. We have been developing paper suitable for our baskets together with a factory in Kenya to provide sustainable multi-function material for a variety of uses.

The idea of Mifuko was born amongst the colourful bustle of a market in Nairobi, Kenya. Minna lived in Kenya at the time, and her close friend Mari was visiting. They had become acquainted while studying textile design at Aalto University. As they wandered around the market they were amazed by the craftsmanship of the artisans selling their goods. Shortly thereafter in 2009, Minna and Mari founded Mifuko with a clear goal: combine Nordic design and traditional African handicraft skills to form a business that directly benefits the people of rural Kenya.

 

Today Mifuko is a successful Fair Trade company, and our work is ever more urgent. In Kenya, climate change has led to recurring droughts making farming, traditionally the primary source of income and sustenance, an unreliable foundation for a stable livelihood. The income artisans earn from Mifuko helps ensure families are fed and cared for when crops can no longer provide security.