In our range you will find a whole series of versatile storage and organization aids for the household. We particularly like the baskets from Mifuko because they are made from natural materials and come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, making them very versatile. This basket is woven from a paper cord, making it lightweight yet sturdy. With a capacity of 52 liters, it can hold everything from blankets, towels and dirty laundry to toys that you want to keep out of sight. This basket is particularly ideal for this purpose, as it comes with a lid that blocks the view of its contents - practical in all places that are also frequented by guests, especially in the hallway or bathroom.

If you don't need the lid, it can be used for other purposes, for example as a large fruit bowl and for walnuts or for storing your current knitting project including wool and knitting needles. Our colleagues had so many ideas for "misappropriation" that we are now considering listing the lid as a stand-alone item.

The paper cord used for this storage basket was developed by Mifuko in collaboration with a Kenyan factory. The cord is robust and durable and is woven into shape by Kenyan craftswomen according to all the rules of the art of basket making. Incidentally, basket weaving is one of the oldest handicraft techniques known to mankind; according to archaeological finds, it predates pottery. The oldest evidence of wickerwork dates back to the Neolithic period: it is estimated to be up to 12,000 years old. You can tell who wove your mifuko basket in our time by the attached sign, where the women sign their names.

Kenyan tradition and craftsmanship characterize the designs of the Finnish label Mifuko. The long-standing connection with Kenya enabled the two designers Minna Impiö and Mari Martikainen to start a cooperation with Kenyan craftswomen in 2009 so that the products could also be manufactured in Kenya. Mifuko now works with around 400 women, not only in Kenya, but also in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Ghana. They live mainly in rural areas and work 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 just as important as the skills and traditional manufacturing techniques are taken into account when designing the products. This gives the women the opportunity to expand their knowledge and pass it on to younger women. They can build up their own network and are ultimately able to earn an additional income, as the women and their families primarily work in agriculture. Only when their own fields have been cultivated and the animals cared for do they produce for Mifuko, thus earning an additional income that often saves them during the drought.

Mifuko is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). On the one hand, this implies the permanent implementation and monitoring of fair trade and fair pay, and on the other hand, care is taken to ensure that the natural habitat is affected as little as possible during the manufacture of the products and that occupational safety is guaranteed. In addition, Minna Impiö and Mari Martikainen finance projects that improve the lives of the workers and their families, such as the construction of sanitary facilities.

Certain manufacturing steps are carried out by hand. Slight dimensional and color deviations may therefore occur.