Bicycle basket Chinese reed

From lightweight Chinese reed, also known as elephant grass, this bicycle basket is woven. It is attached to the handlebar by means of leather straps and brass roller clasps, so it fits almost any bike. If you remove it, it can be used, for example, as a shopping basket and then carried comfortably by the handle. The bottom and sides of the bike basket are tightly woven so that nothing can fall through. Originally native to East Asia, the Chinese reed processed here comes from Ghana, where the basket is also woven purely by hand by Ghanaian craftswomen. The natural material is durable and flexible, yet not immune to persistent moisture and humidity. By the way, who has woven your bike basket, you can see on the attached sign, which the women sign with their name.

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 due to the long-standing connection of the two Mifuko designers 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 and make jewelry. 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 weave carpets or make baskets and bags for Mifuko, thereby 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.