For someone whose tastes are quality over flash, the Calm Desert Basket is a must. This sturdy and understated hand‒woven basket is from the artisans of Rishilpi in Bangladesh. Rishilpi trains and supports artisans in rural Bangladesh who weave these baskets by hand in their homes.
- Date palm leaves and leather
- Handle opening: approximately 4W x 1.25H inches; Basket base: 15D x 19.75H inches; Lid: 15D x 12.5 (internal lip) x approximately 1.25H (including internal lip height); Leather handle on lid: approximately 9.5L x 1.5W (at widest point) inches
- Handcrafted in Bangladesh
Rishilpi, a nonprofit, nongovernmental development organization in southwest Bangladesh, was founded to improve the lives of people of the Rishi caste. "Rishilpi" is formed from two Bengali words, "Rishi," denoting the caste, and "shilpi," meaning artist or craftsman. Rishi, traditionally leather workers, for centuries have lived at the margins of Bengali society. Generally landless, with no easy access to schools, many struggled in a continual search for work to survive. In addition to income generation, Rishilpi conducts relief and development work in rural Bangladesh communities. Benefits to artisans include education sponsorship, health care, microcredit savings programs and early marriage prevention support for their adolescent daughters.