Question 1

How will my purchase be shipped?

Accepted Answer

We use Royal Mail, Parcel Force and DPD to ship our pieces and standard delivery should arrive to you within 5-7 working days.  All pieces are carefully presented and sustainably packaged for our customers.

Question 2

What kind of materials are used in the baskets?

Accepted Answer

Our woven basket collection is handwoven for us in Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Our Ghanaian baskets are mainly handwoven using native grasses (Veta Vera grass, also known as Elephant grass) & dyed using natural pigments.
 
In Kenya and Rwanda many of our baskets are handwoven using Sisal fibre and/or Sweetgrass, in Uganda, our baskets are handwoven using Raffia Plant and Banana Fibre and in Tanzania, our tabletop collection is handwoven using Ugwafu grass, some with an accent of Banana Bark.

As they are all handwoven, our baskets are unique and no two baskets will ever be the same or follow a uniform shape.

Question 3

How do I care for my basket?

Accepted Answer

Veta Vera Baskets (Ghana)

We provide a basket care card in every parcel.
 
Most of the time, baskets will arrive to our customers in its natural, beautiful, artisan-made shape which is always unique to the weaver who made your basket.
 
But if you do wish to re-shape your basket, here and there, at any point, please follow the easy steps below:
 
1. Using a spray bottle, shower your basket all over with cold water (including the base of the basket)
Avoid the leather handles and the coil as much as you can.

2. Allow to dry for a few minutes, out of the sun, so the water can penetrate the straw.
 
3. Start kneading your basket, rotating as you go, until you reach the desired shape.
 
4. Sit the basket on the floor or on a flat surface and push the base of the basket down so it becomes flat. Do this whilst holding onto the coil.
 
5. Allow to dry, in a dry place, out of the sun.
 
Please note: The dyes in our baskets are susceptible to fading so please remember to display your basket in a spot not prone to direct sunlight.

Sisal Baskets (Kenya)

Sisal is renowned for being an extremely durable and robust material but good care should be taken when exposing your basket to full sunlight, since this can cause the colours to fade.

If your basket gets wet, drying it outdoors is recommended.

Sisal is a natural product, and if it remains damp for a long period it can start to get mouldy. If you use your basket as a plant pot, lining it with a water proof material is advised.

Question 4

Can I display plants in some of the baskets?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Always ensure though that you line it with waterproof material or place your plant on a plate at the base of your basket.

Question 5

How do I care for my sustainably made Jewellery?

Accepted Answer

All of our Jewellery pieces have been sustainably made in a solar powered workshop in the mountains of Northern Malawi and is predominantly made from 14k Recycled Gold & Recycled Brass.

14 K  R E C Y C L E D  G O L D  P L A T I N G

Our partner team use an electroplating solution that coats the base metal (brass) with a luxuriously thick layer of 14k recycled gold, much thicker than the industry standard.

We offer high-quality, long-lasting 14k recycled gold (certified recycled and conflict free)

G O L D  F I L L E D

Gold-filled jewellery is the closest to solid gold, and can maintain its quality and appearance when well-cared for.
Gold-filled pieces contain more than 100x more gold than gold-plated jewellery. For an item to be classified as gold-filled, 5% of the total weight of the item must be made up of gold. The layer of gold is much thicker and stronger, therefore more resistant to tarnishing. If you're looking to invest in a lifetime piece, this is for you!

Both Gold Filled and Gold-plating jewellery provides a more premium product with reduced tarnish rate and longer wearability.

All metals are nickel & lead free.
Brass is used as the base metal (under the gold plating)

B R A S S

Brass is a metal alloy comprised of copper and zinc. Known for its durability, brass has been used for centuries in Africa and is a sustainable alternative to gold. Today almost 90% of all brass in the world is recycled.

It is the nature of brass to evolve and tarnish over time. Some love this antiqued, darker look, while others prefer to keep their jewellery bright and shiny. Humidity, products on your skin, and your bodies natural chemistry are some of the things that speed up this process. To avoid oxidation, remove jewellery before showering, working out, or using sprays of any kind. When not wearing your jewellery we recommend storing in a sealed bag in a dry area away from sunlight and heat.

All our jewellery pieces arrive to our customers with a hand sewn linen pouch and polish pad.

S T O N E S

We currently offer two stones in our collection, a natural slate coloured stone and an organic clay.

The slate coloured stone is sourced from within 1 mile of our artisan partners workshop. It is used locally as quarry stone for construction purposes, but they've adapted it to work beautifully with our recycled brass. Our artisan partners thoughtfully shape and sculpt the rough quarry stone into a smooth matte texture for the designs. It is a softer stone, so caution to not drop or hit it against hard surfaces is advised.

The natural clay is sourced from Southern Malawi where our partners,  partner with Dedza Pottery to create a pleasing earthy toned stone. It begins as kiln-fired clay tiles and the artisans thoughtfully develop them into their final shape. The natural clay can darken over time, but will clean up nicely using a soft brush with soap and water. 
 
T E A K  W O O D

Malawi is known for their incredibly talented wood carvers-- from dug out canoes to decorative wooden masks, this skillset is found across the country. Our partners wanted to embrace this art form by incorporating wood elements in their designs.

The wood components are all hand-carved from teak off-cuts purchased directly from the Forestry Department and provide a living, fair-paid wage to the four independent carvers.

Similar to skin, wood can dry out over time. We recommend rehydrating your teak pieces by applying a small amount of coconut or olive oil and then buff it dry.

Question 6

What is meant by the term 'Social Enterprise'?

Accepted Answer

Social Enterprises are businesses that are changing the world for the better.  The main purpose of these businesses is to promote, encourage and make social change. 
 
At 'The Woven Hut' we collaborate and partner with these businesses,  supporting African Artisans & the showcasing of their incredible talents. This frequent collaboration enables our Artisans to maintain a lifestyle of sustenance for themselves & their families.
 
.

Question 7

What is your returns policy?

Accepted Answer

We hope you will love your purchase! But if for some reason you are less than thrilled, please contact us directly via email in the first instance and we will always be happy to discuss any issues.

Our returns policy is 14 Days from delivery of your purchase.
Items need to be returned in the same condition in which it was received and complete with swing tags and in a saleable condition. Where possible, please include a note or brief reason for return. 
Unfortunately, we cannot refund the cost of shipping (where this applies) and we do require you to pay for postage of returned items unless the error with your purchase was due to a fault on our part.
Used or customer damaged items cannot be refunded or exchanged.

We advise you to send all returned items with a trackable service or recorded post and to keep a copy of postage in the event that the package goes missing.

Please note: We cannot accept any jewellery pieces that has been opened and removed from its original packaging.

Question 8

Can I find out about upcoming stock and events?

Accepted Answer

Sure! Join our mailing list on the home page of the site and we can keep you up to date on new arrivals, upcoming collections and our future pop up and exhibition events!

Free shipping on all UK orders over £90

Frequently asked questions