Our Artisans

At Tackassanu, we provide Senegalese weavers with a global platform. We partner directly
with the artisan to ensure product quality and a regular, fair, and secure income for their work.
Together we co-create the design, shapes, and color selections.

Kine

Kine is a married woman and mother of three. She has no traditional education but learned how to weave baskets from her mother and grandmother at eight years old. While the partnership with TKS started in January 2020, our founder, Jasz, and Kine met for the first time face-to-face in 2021 after interacting only through WhatsApp up until that point. Kine is happy to partner with TKS because it brings consistent & sustainable income for her family. She, her mother, grandmother, and her two sisters are the primary weavers for TKS. When orders of large quantities are submitted, Kine takes on the responsibility of managing other artisans in her area to complete the work.

Fatou

Meet Fatou, our esteemed artisan leatherworker based in Senegal, whose expertise and dedication are the heart of our organic leather baskets. Leading a team of nine skilled women, Fatou oversees the meticulous process of transforming raw skins into exquisite leather. From cleaning and drying the skins to curating them in a natural and eco-friendly manner, every step is executed with precision and care, ensuring the highest quality materials for our baskets.

We have had a direct partnership with Fatou since 2021. By eliminating intermediaries we not only support local artisans but also ensure fair compensation for their labor. Our collaboration has provided Fatou and her team access to clean water sources and improved working conditions, documented on our YouTube channel.

Mabatio

Mbatio has been our talented ceramic artisan since 2021. Her expertise shines through her captivating Kiff Kiff (vase) Wild Clay collection. In the rich history of Senegalese ceramics, the coil technique has been a cornerstone for centuries. This ancient method involves building vessels by stacking clay coils, a tradition deeply ingrained in Senegal's cultural heritage.

Mbatio's work caught our eye while browsing stalls along the roadside, standing out amidst the predominantly Ndiakhate ceramics. Despite her immense talent, Mbatio faces challenges, with a large family of over 20 members residing in her compound in the Tivaouane area of Senegal. Her dedication to her craft is evident, even amidst personal struggles, including the separation from her older children attending university in Dakar due to transportation costs.

At Tackassanu, we admire Mbatio's resilience and commitment to her artistry, so we prioritize direct partnerships with artisans like her. By supporting Mbatio's work, we celebrate Senegal's ceramic traditions and empower local artisans to thrive. Explore Mbatio's exquisite creations, crafted with passion and history, to add a touch of Senegalese heritage to your home decor.

Our Materials

Our artisans use a technique called coiling—wrapping grass around recycled plastic strips—to make baskets. They blend traditional Senegalese weaving techniques and a modern design to create the durable,
sustainable, and eco-friendly luxury Tackussanu products you love.

Grass

Our primary material, Hierochloe Odorata, begins treatment with a 7-day naturally
UV-resistant drying process, enabling structural malleability. This natural sundry process activates the aroma chemical (coumarin) inherent to this herbal root.

Salvaged Plastic

By coiling, plastic castaway gets refashioned into a workable binding material. Surplus production material for locally produced prayer rugs is also salvaged.

Organic Leather

Through an 11-day labor-intensive organic tanning process, our leather outrivals luxury vachetta leather. We work exclusively with the exceptional Fatou Ndeye Aydara and her all-women team of nine, who create the material for us.

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