These handwoven Garlic Gourds bring both texture and organic beauty to a room. The gourds are intricately woven from Ilala palm in the Bulawayo region of Zimbabwe, and create striking pieces of art around the home - singular or scattered in groups, on floors or shelves. No two baskets are the same, each with their own shape and natural tones of the ilala. Ilala palm is indigenous to Zimbabwe and grown in dry and sandy areas. They are non-invasive, plentiful and readily available. The fibrous leaves, once dried, are naturally cream in colour. The leaves can be stripped and sliced to either create a fine or thick fibre dependant on the style of the basket they are producing. The Ndebele artisans who make these baskets are traditionally farmers who have been basket-weaving for many years - learning traditional skills handed down from their grandparents. They would use their baskets in their villages to collect and store grain. By providing a global marketplace for these weavers, we help to generate their income from afar, and also gain them social empowerment amongst their communities.