Mmaa Social
"Social enterprise. Baskets handwoven by women’s collectives"
Mmaa Social
Mmaa Social believes ultimate luxury is knowing the provenance and meaning of products. Not only do these baskets reflect generations of traditional handicraft, they also provide income and financial independence for rural women in a context where employment is scarce and most women engage in unpaid labour in the home or on family farms. The collective of just over 200 women provides a supportive network whereby members have access to financial literacy training, sexual and reproductive health education and business support programs.
The artisans, part of a collective on the border of Ghana and Burkina Faso, take two to three days to hand weave each piece. Mmaa Social products are completely sustainable: straw is procured locally, vegetable based dyes are used to dye the straw by hand and the weaving is all done by women in the collective.
Supporting period poverty, for every Mmaa basket that you purchase, a girl or young woman will receive a reusable sanitary kit that will help keep girls in school and help end the shame and silence around period poverty. The reusable sanitary kits are made by seamstresses within the collective therefore promoting another stream of income while also giving back to the community.