Laundry basket

The collaboration between Finnish designer duo Minna Impiö and Mari Martikainen and Kenyan women began with bags and baskets. So what could be more natural than to name the company Mifuko - Swahili for bag? Mifuko's product range focuses on bags and baskets that are handmade from natural and sustainable materials from the region. Sisal, milulu grass, palm leaves, elephant grass or paper cords are used, as well as recycled plastic. The containers are not only intended for transportation purposes, but also serve as versatile storage and organization aids in the home.

This laundry basket is woven from Chinese reed. It is lighter and more flexible than wicker baskets, for example, but still has enough stability and sturdiness to store and transport towels and laundry for a long time. With a volume of just under 48 liters, it also has sufficient capacity. The Chinese reed, originally from East Asia, comes from Ghana, where the basket is woven by hand by Ghanaian craftswomen. The natural material is durable and flexible. You can see who wove your basket on the attached sign, which the women sign with their names.

The designs of the Finnish label Mifuko are not only characterized by Kenyan tradition and craftsmanship, but the products are also manufactured in Kenya. The cooperation with Kenyan craftswomen came into being in 2009 as a result of the two Mifuko designers' long-standing ties with Kenya. In the meantime, Mifuko works with about 400 women, not only more in Kenya, but also in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana. They live mainly in rural areas and work there primarily in agriculture. In the dry season they weave carpets, weave baskets or bags, make jewelry and many other decorative items. Fair payment and long-term business relationships are the main focus, as well as the design of the products taking into account the skills and traditional manufacturing techniques. The women are given the opportunity to expand their knowledge and pass it on to younger women. They can build up their own network and are finally in a position to earn something extra for their livelihood, because first and foremost the women and their families work in agriculture. Only when their own fields are cultivated and the animals are taken care of do they manufacture for Mifuko, thus generating additional income that often saves them through the drought.

Minna Impiö and Mari Martikainen have had Mifuko certified as a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), which implies the permanent implementation and control of fair trade and fair remuneration as well as the consideration of ecological compatibility and work safety in the production of the products. In addition, they finance projects that improve the lives of the workers and their families, such as the construction of sanitary facilities.

This product is an example of genuine handicraft; therefore, minor deviations in size and colour may occur.