There is something special about a basket when you know the story behind it — where it comes from, how it is made and the hands and skills that have gone into creating it.
This beautiful collection of handwoven baskets comes from Eswatini, where skilled weavers work with sisal, a natural fibre that has been used for generations. Simple in its origins, sisal becomes something quite extraordinary through the process of dyeing and weaving.
Slow, Intricate, Mathematical
The making of each African basket is slow and incredibly intricate. The sisal is carefully dyed in rich, deep colours before the weaving begins. Then, coil by coil, the basket takes shape, with the fibres woven tightly together to create bold patterns and beautiful texture.
It is a process that requires enormous skill and patience – and a mathematical mind. The patterns are created as the weaver works in a spiral from the centre to the finished edge. The finest baskets are judged on the tightness of the weave, the consistency of the shape, and the detail in each pattern.
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A collaboration inspired by the Cosmos
For AAFRICAA, this collection was developed exclusively in collaboration with the weaving studio, with colour combinations and motifs created together. Traditional Eswatini weaving techniques have been brought into a fresh, contemporary palette.
The inspiration from the AAFRICAA studio was the African night sky, and so the collection has been called Cosmos.
Deep, atmospheric blue and black are contrasted with cream, pink and orange to create intricate patterns evocative of looking up at the African night. The result is a collection that feels both grounded in its heritage and very modern.
This is what makes contemporary African design so interesting. Traditional techniques and materials can be reimagined in ways that feel completely relevant today, without losing the craftsmanship and knowledge behind them.
Craftsmanship that is both beautiful and useful
These sisal baskets work beautifully as decorative pieces scattered across a wall, but they remain unmistakably useful objects – practical pieces elevated through exceptional craftsmanship and thoughtful design.
And perhaps that is what makes them particularly special. From the natural sisal to the rich colours and tightly woven patterns, every detail tells a story.
A collection inspired by the night sky, handwoven in Eswatini and created exclusively for AAFRICAA.
Shop the Cosmos collection online or visit us at AAFRICAA to see the weave and colour up close.