Elephant Grass U-Shopper #8

This two handled basket was designed for the western market and is considered in Ghana to be a more modern style of Bolga basket. It is a perfect market basket with a wide mouth and deep bottom, it holds-well-a lot of stuff! It measures approximately 13 inches at it's tallest and approximately 18 inches at it's widest (really, we mean approximately). The elephant grass is dyed in rustic pots over a wood burning fire and the over the shoulder long handles are sewn by the men who are employed by the collective.

Please note that a fixed shipping fee of $25 is applied to this product (over-sized). We will refund this fee is you pick this item up from our retail store in Toronto or may partial refund if the shipping fee is lower. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Width: approx 18"

Height: approx 13"

All baskets are made by hand and as such, size and shape may vary slight from what is pictured.

Handles are wrapped with leather for durability

CARE

Reshaping: Baskets can arrive misshapen, you can run it under water, shape and leave it to air dry.

Trimming: Each basket is handmade using elephant grass, similar to straw. Sometimes bits of straw can stick out. Please trim it with a pair of scissors.

A Fair Trade product from Ghana

ABOUT 

The “Bolga” baskets are distinct to the area of Bolgatanga Ghana which is in the far north of the country, right on the border with Burkina Faso.  Initially it was developed bring an income to the region during the farming off season.  These baskets have a distinct style, shape, and quality. Once you are familiar with a true Bolga basket, you can easily spot the difference in quality and construction between these and similar baskets from other parts of the world.  

In the last decade, the Bolga weavers have seen many copies appear on the market and have formed a coalition to protect the nature of this celebrated handicraft.  Our partners in Ghana are helping direct this movement to protect the weavers and their livelihood from “knock offs” from other countries.