Inspired by a toddler’s mess, Baskiti specialises in clever storage.
Homeware brand Baskiti is a passion project inspired by time spent at home during last year’s national lockdown. It started small with just one range of hanging storage baskets and has since expanded to include more handmade storage solutions that are simple and beautiful in their design.
A Personal Story
Baskiti is the brainchild of Jana Leonard, who was inspired to find an aesthetically pleasing and practical storage solution. Jana’s young son, Axel, who was only 14 months old at the time, insisted on using vegetables as balls, and she needed to find a way to keep her kitchen in order. “Originally, it was very funny, and we laughed it off. However, after a few days and many squishy potatoes, we knew there had to be a solution”.
The word Baskiti loosely translates to ‘basket’ in Shona, the native language of the Leonards’ nanny Jacqueline, who is a special source of inspiration for Jana’s family. The company began with a gorgeous range of handwoven hanging baskets designed to store produce and other household items — they work beautifully in various rooms around the home and help create more floor and counter space. Baskiti has since expanded to include several accessories, including wall hooks, planters, liners, toiletry bags, Christmas stockings and braai bags.
The Founder
Jana Leonard is a wife, mom, and entrepreneur passionate about mentoring and assisting small business owners. With a love for business and more than 10 years of PR experience, it comes as no surprise that she has channelled her energy and entrepreneurial spirit into Baskiti. She managed to launch the company without any outside investment, and her first range of hanging baskets sold out within just a week. Son Axel, and daughter Miera, are the lights of her and her husband’s life, and she’s thrilled to have followed through with a business idea that has seen great successes.
WE LOVE
Baskiti’s new braai bags are a great addition to their extensive collection — they come in both leather and canvas. They are a beautiful (and practical) solution to storing essential braai tools. And when it comes to clever storage, you can’t beat the hanging storage baskets, which were the company’s original offering. They are woven with natural cane and reinforced with a solid weaving technique to support up to three kilograms of fruit, veggies or household items. Other great offerings include the hanging planter, designed for small indoor plants, and the new toiletry bag, which is made from soft and durable leather and comes with a waterproof liner.