April 23 Ballito Umhlanga

Woven delights
From elegant, oversized plant holders to gorgeous counter top storage
baskets and unique toy containers, all of the baskets woven by Salt Rock’s
Gerald Mudzingwa are trendy, top quality and in high demand.
Text: LEAH SHONE • Photos: WAYNE JOHNSTONE
atural, stylish and the perfect way to add
texture and interest to a space, woven grass
baskets are still a popular interior trend.
Which is one of the reasons why 39-year-old
Zimbabwe-born basket-maker Gerald has
become one of the most well-known makers on the North
Coast. Friendly and professional, Gerald has developed a
reputation among both interior designers and homeowners
for the excellent quality service and products he delivers.
Having started making and selling items on the roadside
at the age of 18, Gerald and his siblings learned their skills
from their mother while growing up in their hometown of
Chiredzi, Zimbabwe.
“From 18 until around the age of 25, I made a living selling
sandals, baskets and brooms on the side of the road in
Chiredzi and Harare. We were struggling and there wasn't
much of a market for baskets and we sold mostly brooms,”
says Gerald.
Then a friend invited him to come and stay in South Africa
four years ago. “He knew I was a skilled basket-maker and
said there was a bigger market for baskets here.”
Gerald moved to Durban and started selling a few baskets
every week, just managing to pay his bills and put food on
the table.
About two years ago he decided to give the Ballito market
a try. “I began selling brooms and feather dusters next to
Food Lovers Market. One day a woman approached me
and asked if I could repair one of her baskets. I told her I was
actually really good at making baskets and that's when I
decided to start selling them there as well.”
Gerald quickly realised there was a bigger market for his
products and moved his business to Salt Rock (next to
Tiffany's Centre), where he is still based today. That is when
things really started to change.
“The local community
embraced our business,
even offering me advice
on new designs and
ideas. They dropped
off samples for me to
try and, eventually, I
started developing
relationships with local
interior designers who were looking for woven items for
their clients.”
Gerald moved away from making straw carry baskets to
creating unique plant holders, laundry bags and toy storage
baskets. He now also makes beautiful woven coffee tables
and grass lampshades. So many of his ideas come from
his clients, Gerald says, and he has taught himself different
weaving techniques and methods.
His youngest brother, Alexander, now works with Gerald in
his business and, between them, they make almost every
item they sell. “We do outsource some of the very tightlywoven
items from local Malawian guys who are more skilled
at that than us, but we make everything else ourselves.
We always try new things and love learning different
techniques. Sometimes we fail, but that's okay, because it
is in failing that you start to learn,” says Gerald, who recently
took his business up a notch, opening a pop-up store at The
Odyssey Mall.
Gerald is grateful to his customers, who have helped him
make the business what it is today. “I'm so thankful to all
those who have stopped to give me ideas and advice and
trusted me to make items for them and their clients. They
have challenged and pushed me to grow.”
Details: Baskets By Gerald is adjacent to Tiffany's Mall in Salt
Rock and at The Odyssey Mall in Ballito, @basketsbygerald,
basketsbygerald@gmail.com, 074 086 5510.
April 2023 Get It • Ballito • Umdloti • Umhlanga 37