OWP
Abaca Egg Baskets - Green- Set of 2
Abaca Egg Baskets - Green- Set of 2
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These colorful egg baskets are handmade in the Philippines from abaca fiber. The fibers are naturally dyed and woven together to form the eggs. They are great for holding eggs at Easter, and to gift to that special someone as a decoration; when Easter is over, they can be used to hold tea bags, nuts, spices and small packages of food in the kitchen.
They come in a set of 2 (1-large & 1-small) and you can choose from Blue or Pink tones.Â
- Large Egg Measures - 7 1/2'' high x 4 1/4'' wide
- Small Egg Measures - 5 1/2'' high x 3 1/8'' wide
Handmade in the Philippines and Fair Trade imported.
The Abaca plant is a close relative of the banana. It’s known for its strong fiber, that is extracted around the trunk of the plant, and for its many uses in the production of paper, tea bags, ropes, coarse bags, clothing, curtains, and home furnishings. Abaca is also known as “Manila Hemp” and years ago, gave rise to what we know today as Manila Folders, because they were originally made from Abaca.
The Philippines is the world’s leading producer of abaca; it produces 85% of the world’s fiber. On these islands, it is also benefiting by helping to rehabilitate degraded forests and to prevent soil erosion. A year after replanting abaca, it propagates and is ready to harvest and to be replanted to continue conserving the area’s rich bio-diversity and to mitigate climate change.
The artisans of Disenio de Craftico are fathers, mothers, young men and women who are able to help their families through the production of these crafts. They live near Lagazpi City in the Bicol region of the Philippines. Most are hand-to-mouth workers.
Using abaca fibre, nito vine and other sustainable materials, they create beautiful native handcrafts which are sold to create a livelihood for their day-to-day needs, lessen the poverty in their community and strengthen family ties.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Chichicastenango, Guatemala, has become one of the most important heritage centers in Guatemala during the past 10 years, due to its predominant indigenous Maya Quiche population and their traditional textile products. Yet, despite increased tourism and a renewed interest in traditional Mayan crafts, work opportunities remain few for the indigenous population, many of whom are uneducated and otherwise unemployable.
Enter De Colores Art, a local business that levels the playing field for villagers by offering free training to anyone who demonstrates the initiative to learn a trade. The company employs 30 women and 18 men to knit and embroider textile products, with the option of working at home using materials provided by the company. De Colores recognizes the culture of its Mayan employees, and as such allows flexible hours and gives time off for sowing and harvest days.
De Colores also invests in community education projects by funding two local schools in the neighboring towns of Chujupen y Pachoj, and by providing scholarships to qualifying students.
In addition to stimulating the local economy by creating new jobs, De Colores makes a conscious effort to use recycled materials whenever possible. The reason for this is twofold: to preserve Mayan culture, as recycled textiles showcase traditional knitting patterns that aren’t often seen in newer textiles, and to reduce scraps and waste.
Communities collaborate in the production process, as men work on the biggest textiles and women do the embroidery, crochet and macramé seen in smaller pieces. In some cases, in order to be competitive, sewing machines are used to assemble the finished product, although all the components are handmade and hand embroidered from cotton, wool and/or silk.
