Collection: WITETHYE WOMENS GROUP - Kenya

WITETHYE WOMENS GROUP

- Kitui & Makueni, Kenya

Witethye Women’s Group is a collaboration of women in the semi-arid counties of Kitui and Makueni, in the Eastern Province of Kenya.

Many women from this region have formed groups in their local villages where they come together to carry on the tradition of weaving baskets and bags as a form of connection and empowerment, with the term “Witethye” meaning “self help”

The groups not only serve a social and interactive purpose for the women, but by weaving & selling the baskets it provides their communities with an alternative form of income, as harvests often fail due to lack of rain and the region is highly susceptible to drought.

The unique Kiondo baskets are made out of sisal grass & upcycled plastic.

Sisal is an exceptionally durable and strong material, and grows well in the harsh Kenyan climates.  The upcycled plastic is helping the environment with Kenya's ban on plastic bags also contributing to reduce landfill.

The tradition of weaving baskets has been passed down from their mothers and grandmothers and they were originally used for things such as shopping, carrying goods in the markets, storing food, spices and water, and giving as gifts at weddings. However, the main use for baskets was during the harvesting season to carry fruits and vegetables.

These days the baskets are still used for these things and they also get orders for the baskets or they make them for sale at markets, which allows them to provide for their families with basic needs, to pay for food, bills, medicine and school fees for either their children or their grandchildren.

Making baskets & bags is a very labour intensive art and the women take great pride in every basket that they hand weave.

The baskets come in a number of different colours and patterns, with each design entirely made up by the ladies themselves as they make them – so each one is entirely unique.

The bags are made from sisal and wool with leather trims, again each one is completely hand woven and hand made, so each one is entirely unique.

By buying these baskets, as a customer you are actively helping to empower women and provide an alternative income for wonderful people in a dry area in south-eastern Kenya.