People love a good story behind the product they are purchasing, especially if it means they are contributing to the betterment of a community.
Exhibiting at Reed Gift Fairs Melbourne for the first time, Mana Baskets are handmade by women artisans in African villages.
“We have been bringing the baskets to Australia for about five years now,” says director Carey Westwood, “and we have always been presenting them at charity events or even at people’s homes. We would be showcasing the baskets on the kitchen table to about 20 people while eating cheese and drinking wine.
“However, during Covid we realised we needed to get more serious about selling the baskets and present them in a better and bigger way to raise more funds and so we decided on our very first gift fair.”
Westwood says the feedback at the fair has been brilliant and people are very encouraging towards the brand and what it stands for—100 per cent of the profits go to Manasprings, an organisation which was launched in 2015.
“When you buy the baskets you support Manasprings, a charity registered in both Australia and Kenya, which helps women who care for vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in Africa.
“We also organise retreats where women gather together for two nights and three days and join a free-of-charge program. Our focus is their wellbeing, so caring for the carers, caring for frontline workers, which are predominantly women in Kenya,” Westwood explains.
The word Mana has a background in Māori culture and is all about how you care for other people, while springs stand for refreshing your body, mind and spirit.
“The programs are designed for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing, as we believe that women who work on the frontlines need time on the sidelines.
“Grassroots women leaders who work in inner-city slums and impoverished rural villages need time for physical and psychological rest and for spiritual retreat. It is important for these women to be in a safe and encouraging environment to connect, learn and be inspired.”
Mana Baskets buys all of its handmade baskets directly from local women’s weaving groups to ensure fair trade prices are paid immediately to every woman.
“When you purchase a basket, you’re helping Manasprings to care for women.”
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