Binky Newman has worked for many years with Zulu weavers based in the remote rural areas surrounding South Africa’s first World Heritage Site – the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu Natal. The primary weaving material for baskets in this area is ilala palm. Binky has conducted many product development workshops to facilitate sharing knowledge of basket weaving between groups and to bring contemporary forms to the designs.
In a different part of the province, Design Africa works with weavers who use the mountain grasses of the Drakensberg, combined with recycled plastic strapping, to create a range of sturdy laundry baskets, trays, planters and sidetables.