Mingalaba Baskets

A beautiful, long-lasting alternative to plastic bags.

One trillion plastic bags are used and discarded globally every year. Five billion are used every year in Australia, and most end up in landfill. Plastic bags harm the environment in so many ways. But we don’t need plastic bags, when we have our Mingalaba basket.

A Mingalaba basket is beautiful, strong and durable, handwoven from pallet straps by artisans in Myanmar (Burma). The frame is made from recycled material. The design is based on ‘teacher baskets’ used daily in Myanmar. No two Mingalaba baskets are the same.

Your Mingalaba basket can be used time and time again, for years to come, making this a sustainable, and beautiful alternative to plastic bags. Even better, your purchase directly helps families in Myanmar.

Our baskets take reasonable weight, and are easily cleaned. Use your basket at the market, for a picnic, at the beach, for work or anything you like!

 

The Mingalaba Basket Story

In 2012, my husband and I travelled to Myanmar (Burma) and fell in love with the country and its people. Over the years, we have formed beautiful relationships with Myanmar families. We also fell in love with the ‘teacher baskets’ used every day in Myanmar.

We approached local artisans who were producing quality work to create baskets we could sell in Australia. It’s important to us that we get to know our weavers, and ensure that artisans are paid a fair price and no child labour is used. We are proud to be a member of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand, 

We love that our business is relationship based. We get to see the flow-on affects of selling Mingalaba baskets in Australia. By purchasing a basket here, you directly improve lives in Myanmar. Since starting Mingalaba, one of our weavers has been able to build his own house. And we provide funds to educate kids, and help with medical costs.

Thank you for supporting families in Myanmar, and helping our planet by purchasing a Mingalaba basket.

 

Sandy Banister, Mingalaba