"Your conscious lifestyle deserves better than that mass-produced basket in the corner."
Is a Handmade Laundry Basket Better?
Looking for a sustainable laundry basket? Here are 5 reasons why our handmade Rwandan baskets beat Zara Home - ethically, beautifully, and practically.
I recently got asked how I feel about The Artisan Lab’s laundry basket being trendy and that someone could quite easily buy a similar model from H&M or Zara Home. My immediate gut reaction was a bit like "ehh mate, why are you asking me this question at a sustainability event???" And then I realised that he was not only right in asking me this question, but he was also doing me a massive favour.
For context, I said we didn't view Zara or H&M as a competitor, but then I realised that's not entirely true.
When I got back to Madrid, I kept seeing the ubiquitous Zara design pop up. In my yoga studio, in one of my fave local coffee shops, the smaller one in a chic, new restaurant. Laundry baskets and their sister products are everywhere—and they tend to go with the aesthetic of spaces that value organic produce, wellness lifestyle and higher consciousness.
Why Your Home Decor Should Match Your Sustainable Lifestyle
This got me thinking about the disconnect between our willingness to address our dietary or fashion choices regarding sustainability and our desire to choose sustainable interior design items. Fast fashion is not just what you wear, it's also what you choose to decorate your space with. In 2025, it’s fair to say that we are more comfortable engaging in conversations about sustainable fashion and food as opposed to addressing what our laundry baskets represent.
Unfortunately, I can't ascertain the exact number of laundry baskets Zara Home sells or makes daily, but I would hazard a guess it's a staggering amount. When I looked up ‘baskets’ in March 2025, there were around 35 products. The brand is estimated to make over 450 million products every year with around 12,000 new designs chosen for production. Let that sink in. It's hard to imagine this model ever being remotely sustainable.
From Fast Homeware to Slow Design: What You Can Do Today
If you’ve made the switch to oat milk, second-hand fashion, and slow travel - it might be time your home caught up.
Choosing artisan-made pieces isn’t just an aesthetic choice, it means living more in alignment with your values and creating a home that actually feels like you.
Shop Rwandan Laundry Baskets - sturdy, soulful, and definitely not mass-produced
Meet the Artisans - because knowing who made your basket hits different
Why Materials Matter - natural fibres over plastic, every time
We’re not here to guilt-trip you. But if you’re already living consciously, your laundry basket should reflect this too!
Zara Baskets vs. Artisan and Handmade: What’s the Real Difference?
FAQs:
How do your baskets compare to high street options like Zara?
When I picked up one of the Zara ones, I couldn't get over how flimsy it felt. Our handwoven baskets are substantially heavier (I now consider picking them up around the house as part of my workout). They will naturally wear and tear, but they are handcrafted by artisans with years of basketry expertise.
Can these baskets be used for more than just storage?
Absolutely! Over the past year, I've used our baskets for workout gear, artfully storing towels for guests, and as planters for monstera deliciosa and fig trees. Unique design inspires creative usage.
Do they actually enhance your décor, or just blend in?
That's the thing about a more unique design, you can transform that beige thing in the corner from an afterthought to the centrepiece in your living space.
What makes your baskets environmentally friendly?
Our baskets are handmade using naturally, locally-sourced materials. We could never compete with Zara's numbers, but that's because we believe in honouring the work of human hands.
Is there a social impact component to your products?
Through our pledge to sustainability and social impact, we directly invest back into the communities that we work with.
Is Zara Home considered sustainable?
Zara Home produces over 12,000 new product designs each year. This fast-paced production model is not considered sustainable by most industry standards.
Do sustainable laundry baskets really make a difference?
Absolutely. Swapping plastic or fast homeware for handmade, eco-conscious pieces helps reduce waste, support fair wages, and improve your living space
How can small artisan businesses compete with giants like Zara?
In 2024, Zara and Zara Home were estimated to be worth €27.228 billion. We can never compete with their speed or wealth. That said, the global artisan sector was worth $739.95 billion in 2024, so it's not all doom and gloom! I'm a words person (not numbers!), but I calculated that if just 1% of Zara's valuation were redirected into the global artisan economy, that would be €272.28 million flowing directly into the hands of skilled craftspeople worldwide. Imagine the transformative ripple effect for artisans who often work from small workshops with limited resources.
