Water Hyacinth Baskets

These are strong and intricately patterned baskets, woven from dried water hyacinth leaves.

Water Hyacinth grows abundantly in the waterways of the Tungabhadra river and can clog the waterways, effecting the eco diversity of plants and marine life. The people of Anegundi painstakingly harvest the plants and use the dried stems for weaving. The long, slender leaves can be cut and dried into a strong yet soft fibres, perfect for weaving into baskets and other products.

Women's communities from this part of Karnataka use their traditional bag making skills with this sustainable raw material to create beautiful accessories in support of community development. You can read more about this initiative here.