Sisal Kiondo Tote Bag, Cream and Natural, Leather Straps

A handwoven sisal tote in two bands of cream and natural, with long tan leather shoulder straps, a printed cotton lining and a wooden button fastening. It is a real market basket rather than a basket shaped handbag, so it holds a laptop, a towel or a shop without losing its shape, and the straps are long enough to sit on the shoulder over a coat. The sisal is stiff enough to stand up on its own when you put it down, which is the difference between this and a soft straw bag. The lining is the part worth knowing about. Each bag is lined in printed cotton and the maker uses what she has, so no two linings are the same. The bag in the first photograph is lined with several different prints pieced together, navy with pink, gold and white figures. The bag in the second photograph has a single brown and gold print. Yours will be lined in a print of its own. The body is twined by hand from natural sisal fibre. The leather straps are riveted through the weave with copper rivets rather than stitched to a fabric tab, which is the join that usually fails on a basket bag. A wooden button on a leather cord fastens the top. It measures about 32cm wide and 32cm tall, excluding the handles. Bags are flattened for shipping to keep the parcel small. This does no harm, as sisal springs back into shape once it is unpacked. Do not soak the bag. Wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth and store it somewhere dry.