Hanging Tree Bark Baskets

These three tier media luna baskets are made in Oaxaca Mexico by a collective of artisan women. The baskets and are ideal for storage and display. They do have a braided finish on the bottom for extra strength, however they’re not meant for extra heavy weight, as they may sag after an extended period of weight inside.

Process:

Hecho collaborated with a democratic collective of eight artisan women on these pieces. They formed the group in the 1980s, however none of the founding members remain. Ages of the women in the group range from 20s to 60s and they split our orders evenly between the members. Everyone in the group pays a small percentage into a fund that they keep in order to rent the building that they use as their group workshop, and also to cover small expenses, where needed. That said, the women work on their pieces at home, at their own pace.

These pieces are completely organic, except for the small nails used to secure the frames, and are handmade from wood and tree bark from the jonote tree. They gather the material in the local forest and do so in a respectful, sustainable manner. The bark is stripped by hand, and the wood and tree bark are soaked in water to clean it. After that, the bark is torn into long pieces and dried. The frames are made from the stripped wood, which they clean by hand with knives. The trees regenerate new bark after a little while, so this process does not damage the trees themselves.

Care:

They should be stored in a dry location as extreme damp may cause mold. To clean them, simply wipe with a damp, soapy cloth. They will naturally darken with time, sun exposure and use. As they are made of organic materials, they will also naturally degrade, especially if they’re left outside in the elements. Since they’re made with tree bark, the colour of the pieces varies with the colour of the bark. As they’re handmade by a small collective of women, the shapes and sizes do vary slightly, as well.