Our Story

Mbira Baskets started the way a lot of good things do - between a father and a son, across two countries, around a shared belief that the work of Zimbabwe's artisans deserves a place in homes far beyond it.

My father works close to the source, in Zimbabwe's Zambezi River region, building the relationships that make all of this possible - sitting with the weavers, choosing each piece, making sure the people who make our baskets are looked after properly. I run things from London: the markets, the website, and getting each piece into your hands.

Every basket is handwoven from natural ilala palm. No dyes, no machinery, no shortcuts - just skill passed down through generations, and a great deal of patience. Our metalwork is made the same way, by artisans who turn discarded metal into something with character and a second life. Because everything is made by hand, no two pieces are ever quite the same. We think that's the point.

We're a small family business, and we like it that way. It means we know exactly where everything comes from and who made it. When you buy from us, that money travels back to real people doing real, skilled work in Zimbabwe - which is the whole reason we started.

Thanks for being part of it.