Toino Abel is a firm created by the Portuguese Nuno Enriques in order to preserve a artesanal job like that of basketry. The business that started with his great-grandfather, today employs six people who make each basket following the same traditional technique of that time.
Every step is done by hand; From the moment the cane is cut until it is woven, there is a whole process that has become an art that could die with these artisans. Natural baskets and brightly colored baskets; In the Toino Abel catalog you can find varied models at affordable prices.
In the case of handmade baskets, I was surprised by the price of them. Between 30 and 50 € You can be sure to get one in the store that the firm has on Etsy; A certainly competitive price that does not admit too many excuses if you fall in love with these baskets as I do.
All the artisans who work to produce these bags have worked for the company for many decades. Each step of the process is done by hand: The women cut the cane, collecting it into bundles of equal size. Dries and subsequently, is dyed with pigments to weave the different patterns.
Finished parts they are sewn by hand to complete the basket. Later the handles are incorporated, made of willow branches. Although they all follow the same process, there are different patterns and different size baskets. Many have the colors of the Portuguese flag.
The art of making this type of basket is coming to an end. When this latest generation of workers stops working, tradition could be lost. So if you like them and before this happens, you already know where you can buy a slice of this cultural tradition; in Toino Abel.