I hear from many of you that you’re always on the hunt for new twists on staple products like basketry. Today I wanted to share something that’s perfect for new lines of summer bags and home accessories. My partner in Thailand recently launched this new basketry collection using a fiber called grey sedge. Traditionally, this natural grass was woven to be used in various ways throughout the home. As interest in handicrafts has increased over the years, communities of Thai weavers have been developing new baskets, mats, lighting pendants, ornaments, and more. Some of the weavers get up each morning to pick the grey sedge themselves, which is then dried for two or three days. After, the stalks are pressed by machine and dyed before being woven into specified designs.

Today I’d like to take you on a journey to Thailand, where I’ve recently connected with a group of artists that specializes in water hyacinth. If you’re looking to bring in a new line of basketry, storage containers, or handbags, they may be the perfect partner for you. For years, the Thai government spent tens of millions of dollars fighting this feisty weed as it clogged rivers and canals. But recently innovative entrepreneurs have found new functions for water hyacinth as an environmentally friendly fiber for their work.