Upcycled Woven Box Strap Basket- The Big Dengu

Description

The Big Dengu from ‘cycleofgood’ is made from upcycled box strapping, that pesky plastic band that holds cardboard boxes together and normally ends up in the bin.

It is collected by ingenious Malawian craftsmen from local factories who then carefully weave it into green and black baskets that are possibly the strongest basket you could ever buy.

These baskets are fully washable making them wonderful for outdoor use too, simply pop them in a sink or bath of warm water or hose them down.

I love them for water and sand toy storage. Also a great shopper for the supermarket run, attractive storage for around the home or even for your laundry. 

We think The Big Dengu makes a great picnic basket. You can fit lots of yummies in this one!

I just love keeping my stuff in something made of stuff that would otherwise be thrown away and end up in landfill. Every time I use my Dengu I smile knowing I have helped to tidy up a little bit of planet.

They are surprisingly robust and stiff so they hold their shape well and are virtually (and virtuously) indestructible. They can carry an amazing amount of weight.

Due to the hand-made nature of this item, some slight variation in size, style and colour may occur (but isn’t that good to know that yours is truly unique?)

Specifications

They come in three different sizes:
Big – Height 27cm Width 32 Depth 28cm
Medium – Height 23cm Width 30cm Depth 24cm
Little – Height 15cm Width 18cm

Story

Helping to end poverty in one of the poorest communities in the world. Currently employing 10 Malawian tailors full time, but with ambitions to grow this to a team of 100, they earn a good wage and can support their families, without any charity donations or handouts.

Cycle of Good is the latest initiative to join a hub of social enterprises created by the charity over the past ten years. Situated in Chilomoni Township, Malawi, the enterprises together employ 500 people who have trained and worked to create businesses that fund a vital children’s centre.

The centre provides early years care and family support to around 2000 vulnerable children at any one time. It’s a quiet revolution of skills building and economic growth in a country with no welfare state: if you don’t earn, you don’t eat. Cycle of Good builds on all of this amazing work to make something even more wonderful.

They now collect waste inner tubes and other products, ship them in their containers to Malawi and give them to the tailors who carefully craft useful and beautiful items. They also carefully source other Malawian made items, especially when they are made from upcycled and sustainable materials.

They ship all these amazing products back to the UK where they sell them to lovely people like you! The profits pay for them to send more containers to Malawi and all surpluses directly fund the work of the children’s centre. That is why they call it the Cycle of Good!

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