Handcrafted by YAADU – From the savannah to your home

Our responsibility

YAADU begins where everything is created: on site, with the people.

Our baskets and products are created through a holistic process that respects people, the environment, and culture. From the wild savanna grass in Senegal to the plastic-free packaging in Germany, we pay attention to every detail: honest, transparent, and as resource-efficient as possible.

It’s not just about materials – but above all about impact. Because true consideration means for us: fair working conditions, lasting opportunities, and products that last a long time – while also telling stories.

How a YAADU basket is made and the journey it takes, we show you step by step:

Every basket tells a story: about people, nature, and responsibility

Step 1: Harvesting the Savanna Grass

📍 Location: Casamance, Senegal

In the fertile Casamance region in the south of Senegal, the wild savanna grass grows, which forms the basis for our baskets. The grass is harvested by experienced farmers by hand – without the use of machines or chemicals. Close cooperation with the farmers enables sustainable use of the natural resources and at the same time ensures them a reliable income.

Step 2: Recycling process of the colored ribbons

📍 Location: Dakar Region, Senegal
Collaboration with recycling factory

For the colored strips of our baskets, we work with a local recycling factory in the Dakar Region. There, old tires, PET bottles, and food packaging are collected and processed in an upcycling process into durable, colorful plastic strips. Instead of ending up in the trash, these materials are transformed into a new, meaningful product – thereby contributing to waste reduction and strengthening local circular economies.

♻️ What is Upcycling?


In upcycling, used materials are not only recycled but transformed into higher-quality products. This way, waste, like an old water bottle, becomes a beautiful laundry basket for your bathroom – creative and resource-saving.

Step 3: Braiding Together

📍 Location: Ngaye Region, Senegal

In the Ngaye Region, over 40 women weave our baskets with careful handcraftsmanship. Often, entire families work together on this – sometimes even three generations at once: grandmother, mother, and daughter. Each basket is a unique piece, made with patience, skill, and decades of experience.

For the women, weaving means more than just work: It provides a steady income – and with it, true independence. They can send their children to school, pay for medical care, and provide clothing and enough food. This change goes far beyond each individual basket – it transforms lives.

Step 4: Quality Control & Preparation

📍 Location: On-site warehouse in Senegal


After weaving, each basket is individually inspected, cleaned, and marked with the YAADU logo. Baskets with minor flaws are not discarded but carefully reworked – nothing goes to waste at YAADU. Only when everything is perfect are the baskets prepared for shipping.

Step 5: Transport to Germany

📍 Location: Warehouse in Dortmund


About every six weeks, we ship a container of baskets to Germany. Our logistics partner CMA-CGM ensures a secure transport. In Dortmund, a further quality check takes place – and afterwards, the baskets set off plastic-free and climate-friendly via DHL or UPS on their way to our customers.

Step 6: Durable & Valuable

📍 Location: Anywhere people love our baskets


Our baskets are not only beautiful but also durable: With proper care, they easily last over 10 years and beyond. And even after that, they are far too valuable to throw away – they can be reused, repaired, or even redesigned. This way, the story of a YAADU basket stays alive – long beyond production.

Where do our products come from?

Our products tell stories – of people, traditions, and places that have shaped us.

Whether Fonio from the hometown of Thierno Barry - one of our founders - in Guinea, handwoven baskets from the Ngaye region in Senegal, or colorful Blankets from South Africa: Each piece is created in close collaboration with local partners, families, and communities.

We know the people behind our products personally – and we believe that transparent partnerships are the best way to real change.

With every purchase, you support families locally in Africa!