Behind The Basket

Our baskets are made by an amazing group of weavers in a village in Ghana. The group consists of men and women who have developed this skill and art form which has been passed down from generations. They are now passing it down to their children in hopes of creating a legacy that will benefit their children.
It is important when purchasing items from other countries to ensure they are Fair Trade. It is very important to us here at Plum and Sparrow and it was one of the first standards we set in place. Being supporters of Fair Trade means that we can give back in more ways than one.

Here at Plum and Sparrow we pay above the fair trade standard with each of the baskets we purchase from African village weavers. In 2022 we started our own co-op so we work directly with the weavers and we’re better able to ensure their wages are reaching the right people. Your purchase helps these weavers and their families in several ways —including family healthcare and schooling for young children.

We want to make sure the weavers are not only being treated with respect but also being paid a fair and equal price. Sadly, other basket weavers and shops do not abide by these standards which is why it is so important to us to let you know that when you purchase one of our baskets, we have a Fair Trade guarantee.

We value the skill of the weavers, who have been weaving these baskets for generations. To keep the tradition alive, we often don’t direct the weavers to produce certain color patterns. They have the creative freedom, as the true artists, being inspired in their own way to produce these pieces of art. Often, the color combination comes from materials that are readily available to them. This results in a true one-of-a-kind item, not replicated or mass-produced, that will forever be a part of your home.