what we do

Woven Worldwide is a socially-conscious, home décor brand that specializes in high-quality, eco-credential, handcrafted baskets for homes and interior spaces.

where we are

Based between our design studio in Toronto, Canada and our workshop in Accra, Ghana, we respond to the consumer demand for ethical products by producing handwoven baskets that are high-quality, eco-credential and also contribute to the greater social good.

luxury woven wavy bowl in a living room

Our Mission

We amplify Ghanaian craftsmanship culture by advancing a community of independent Ghanaian basket weavers in the creative industries.

Through redemptive design, we believe in taking ownership of the narrative, origin craft, and creating spaces to celebrate Black creativity and culture.

Elephant grass used to make Woven worldwide african baskets

Our Materials

what our woven baskets are made of

Our elephant grass is a robust, renewable, tri-tone, tropical-scented straw indigenous to Ghana's Bolgatanga region, gathered and firmly planted by streams of living water.

seasonality

We introduce new products in Autumn in conjunction with the harvest season in Northern Ghana. During this stage, the reeds transforms from fine, pale green, mustard to a raw honey hue into what we all recognize as traditional elephant grass.

Services

  • High-quality, Handcrafted Baskets

    We provide the gift of African craftsmanship. Each handcrafted storage baskets and woven art piece is crafted by hand in storied, inviting locations with the finest raw materials in Ghana.

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  • Pre-order Baskets

    Pre-ordered products are listed in the product description. An estimated delivery date willl be communicated to you that we work with our artisan partners at our design studio in Ghana.

    Preorder Products

    These lead dates are subject to change due to shipment delays beyond our control. Harvest season, cultural festivals, and existing production schedule are some examples.

    Explore Pre-Order

Woven Worldwide Booth At Shoppe Object - February 2023

Cowrie Bolga Pot Basket
$97.00 $134.00
$97.00 $134.00
Bolga Lampshade for living room
$64.00
$64.00

Our Sales Channels

  • Business To Business

    We welcome retailers from around the world to #WeaveWithUs . Wholesale orders can be ordered directly through our website by completing the message box below or via our Wholesale Partner Faire.

    We want to make sure that Woven Worldwide is a good fit for the companies we work with and that our products are represented well. Discover new products while benefiting from perks that reduce the risk of purchasing wholesale while also contributing to the larger social good.

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  • Design Trade Program

    We invite architects, set designers, interior designers, realtors and other design professionals to #WeaveWithUs and create high-quality products for both residential and commercial properties.

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Our Value Chain

  • Generational

    Farmers

  • Women-Conscious

    Artisan Team

  • Global

    Retailers
  • luxury woven wavy bowl in a living room

    Your Home

Message From Our Founder

Hi, I’m Viola Labi; the woman blessed to partner with intergenerational Artisan businesswomen. As a child, I was first introduced to the arts of textiles, retail, and storytelling by observing my mother at her textile boutique in Toronto, Canada. I am the daughter of small business owners. My mother was deeply in-tune with her Ghanaian culture. She and my father welcomed and inspired clients with nearly 2 decades of stories of craftsmanship wrapped in history and cultural legacy.

I have over 16 years of invaluable experience working in customer-centric leadership roles in major North American and European retail companies. I now find peace working outdoors with skilled textile & basket weavers, under the glorious African sun, or from my home office in Toronto, Canada with coconut milk ice cream close by. These parallel life experiences have connected in such a consistent and beautiful way .

In 2017, the company was founded during a personal trip to Ghana. I witnessed my reintroduction to elements of Ghana's time-honored traditions, such as Shea, textile, and basketry production, all at the hands of skilled women Artisans. Despite language barriers and unfamiliar surroundings, I felt centred and at home while immersed in these environments. As I developed relationships with these women, they began to share their economic and social opportunities with me, and to be honest, I didn't have the answers, so I simply listened. Their stories provoked me to empathize and also made me acutely aware of the context and my own privilege.

Understanding each of the basket weavers needs necessitated the elimination of unconscious biases regarding Africa, luxury, and underserved communities. As we continued to build our relationships, a seed was planted, and I knew then that I was called to partner with these women.

As time passed, I found myself being stitched back together in places I didn't realize needed repair, such as identity, culture, and purpose. Each experience with these women was buoyed by teachings about my ancestry, femininity, and survival. Looking back, these women and I exchanged symbolic knowledge and cultural practices and I became woven.

Although building this business wasn't intentional, it was written for my path. Now, by God's grace,  my team and I continue to create a brand that strives to make an impact on the lives of our first customer; the Artisan. For years—I developed skills, practiced my craft, and committed myself to build Woven Worldwide and the micro-businesses of the women Artisans that I serve. In unspoken ways, they each teach me about femininity, grace, and sustainability. Our connection is beyond the product and it's been a journey that I would embark upon again and again if given the chance.

  • Our Growth

    The company established partnerships with five basket weaving artisans in tucked away towns in Northern Ghana, while I simutaneouly spearheaded West Africa's first Versace Collections mono boutique in Accra, Ghana. I quickly became aware of the radically different environment in which I found myself. We now collaborate with 200 basket weaver families between Ghana's southern and northern regions. Our team is proud of how far we've come, but opportunities for the collective agency of Ghanaian artisans remain.

  • Our Ethos

    We have direct relationships with fourth-generation basket weaving families that partner with us four days a week, allowing both parents to be present in the home to sustain communities. Although our products are handwoven, the company name refers to an ideology; a combination of skill sets acquired through my personal and professional experiences, the indigenous beauty of ancestral weaving techniques exemplified by our artisan partners, and coming together as Humanity.

Kind Words From Our Customers

  • "Thank you so much Viola. I should send you a video of our shop so you can see your beautiful goods nestled in there ."

    Jennifer, Osisi Boutique

  • " I love Woven products! "

    Andrew Asare
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Media & Press

  • Press

    Writing something about Woven Worldwide? Great, we love to hear it. Please reach out first so we can explain the context in which we work, the strength of our team's cultural plurality & our vision for 2023!

  • Basketry Photos

    A good story needs a good picture. Once you agree to our terms, you’ll be automatically redirected to a Google Drive folder of image assets for Woven Worldwide.

  • Contributions, Podcasts

    Woven Worldwide founder, Viola Labi is known for her views on fashion, retail and social impact. She also shares her evolving input on issues impacting artisan communities in Ghana through her networks.

Connect With Us Here

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More Information About Woven Worldwide To Explore

  • High-Quality Products

    Our team and artisan partners were hand picked for their knowledge of materials, process, and love of design. We are always happy to share our extensive knowledge and understanding of our craft, whether you are browsing our website or visiting one of our stockists.

  • Community Approach

    We have direct relationships with fourth-generation basket weaving families that partner with us four days a week, allowing both parents to be present in the home to sustain communities.

  • Corporate Social Responsibility

    Our basket weaving training standardizes production in an informal market while also providing artisan leaders with tools, resources, and innovative methods to preserve and improve heritage techniques.

The Woven Worldwide Home Décor Blog