All Mifuko products are handmade. Depending on the product, traditional craft techniques such as basket weaving and woodcarving are used. Our products are designed for long-term use, with particular attention paid to quality during production.
Handmade products naturally vary in shape and detail, making each piece unique. The maker’s name is included with the product whenever the production method allows.
Made by local artisans
Mifuko products are made by local artisans working in self-help groups and workshops that follow Fair Trade principles. Basket weaving and other crafts provide artisans with income opportunities alongside farming and other sources of income.
In Kenya, our partnerships are built around local self-help groups. The women in these groups meet weekly to talk, weave baskets and keep traditional craft skills alive. Basket weaving gives women in rural communities an opportunity to earn their own income. Weaving can be done flexibly at home and fitted around their own schedules.
Mifuko supplies the groups with the materials and tools needed for weaving and manages the logistics of materials and finished products. We meet regularly with self-help group leaders and provide training for the groups. In addition to weaving techniques and quality assurance, the training covers group operations and financial management. Regular saving is also part of the groups’ activities, and the groups can provide loans to members for purposes such as family needs or small businesses.
Products designed to long term use
Fast fashion and fast home décor are trends we hope will come to an end. We make handmade, high-quality products designed to serve their purpose for a long time.
Mifuko products are carefully handcrafted. We work with artisans, provide training and meet regularly with the groups to maintain product quality.
Each product is unique, and many of our products can be used in a variety of ways, both indoors and outdoors. The same basket can be used, for example, as a shopping bag or for storage. Proper product care supports long-term use. You can find instructions for individual products in our care guide.
Materials and origins
All Mifuko products are handmade. We source a large proportion of our materials in Kenya. We work directly with material suppliers and the artisans who make our products, allowing us to trace the origins of materials and the stages of the production chain, from raw materials to manufacturing.
The origins, sourcing methods and key environmental characteristics of the materials we use are presented individually on our Materials page.
10 principles
Read more about the ten fair trade principles that every WFTO member organisation must follow.
Sustainability
Learn more about Mifuko’s social and environmental work and the concrete actions behind it.
Mifuko Trust
Mifuko Trust was founded to tackle poverty and increase the well-being of our artisans.
Mifuko Blog
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