WomenCraft
LOCATED IN tanzania
Social enterprise WomenCraft works with more than 300 artisans in 17 villages in the tri-border area of Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. The artisans include women who settled back into their home communities, refugees, resettled individuals, survivors of genocide, Tanzanian hosts of refugees, and artisans living with HIV.
Previously, several of the women were once struggling subsistence farmers. Many of them have assumed the responsibility of caring for the surviving children of extended family members who lost their battle to AIDS. With WomenCraft, they can increase their crop yield while having a work-family life balance, send their children to school, and provide their families with better nutrition and healthcare. They have significantly improved their quality of life, started new business ventures, gained equality and respect with their spouses, and supported their families and communities at-large.
The talented artisans practice a weaving technique that is traditional to Hangaza culture in Africa. This specialized coiling technique combines natural grasses interwoven with vibrant materials of the region. Through the time-intensive technique, artisans weave each grass coil in a series of carefully planned rows, fusing traditional weaving with a modern aesthetic. This technique is passed down from one generation to the next, primarily from mothers to daughters or women to women. It is also unique to the artisans’ communities.
To produce these baskets, artisans masterfully use sustainable materials including locally harvested grasses and recycled grain sacks along with small weaving tools. They carefully plan the design of each piece and subsequently align rows of grass to reveal a unique shape and design. It takes anywhere from two to seven days to complete each piece; the length of production is dependent on the size and unique design of each piece.
from the archives
Woven Coasters
Woven Placemats
More styles available
More styles available
Woven Serving Trays
Woven Trays
More styles available
More styles available
Woven Bowls
Woven Baskets
More styles available
More styles available
Woven Hampers
More styles available
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