DIY Nature Crafts

3 Natural Materials For Wicker Laundry Hampers (Part 1)

Wicker laundry hampers (often called as laundry baskets) are not only practical for laundry storage, but also for decorating interiors. According to Export Data 2021 from Vietnam Customs, top 3 natural materials of exported homewares are water hyacinth, seagrass, rattan. They’re popularly used in producing laundry hampers, let’s see why they are good fits.

Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is among quality fibers for making homewares in general and wicker laundry hampers in particular. In 2021, water hyacinth exports had the largest volume amongst natural homewares exported from Vietnam. This is preferred by consumers in the U.S, Australia, Canada and many European markets. Thanks to its physical property: Long, spongy stalks (stems). The dried stalks are super durable, with a unique honey brown. Water hyacinth hampers feature very strong structure for up to 60-liter storage and earthy tones to match any decors.

New trend home decor 2022. Focus on the rattan items!

Nature and Organic products are still part of the main trend in the coming year. We would like to share some ideas as below:

1/ Lighting is the most important aspect that will decide how everything else- from the wall to the floor. With the festivities around the corner, we should keep the areas shining spontaneously . Lighting can be placed on the ceiling, up the table, on the floor or outside the hall….we can hang them in the group two or three or even 10 pendant lights. When we group the pendant lights, we can choose the different designs and colors.

2/ Plant Stand is the popular product in the recent years when people love to create the green environment. When we stay home more and more, we have the idea to keep family time warmly. Home is about simplicity, comfort, promotes a peaceful lifestyle. Whether the plant stand staged next by the sofa or in the house corner, it brings the green feel to the owners.

The 2022’s trend is all about feeling. People like to touch the material, feel the environment and enjoy the life.

TECHNOOLOGY, RAW MATERIALS HOLDING BACK HANDICRAFT SECTOR

Vietnam's handicraft exports grossed US$308 million per year, up 13 percent from a year earlier, making its possible to obtain the years goal of $660 million, according to the Ministry of Trade (MoT).

However, handicrafts export potentials have yet to be fully tapped due to a dearth in available technology and lack of materials to support large-scale production.

Shortcomings

Experts said Vietnam lacks raw material zones serving the handicraft industry, although there was an available supply of naturally occurring materials like rattan, bamboo or clay.

He added these resources could be exhausted in the future due to insufficient fresh resources and cultivation projects.

The sector urged the government to set up a fund to support material cultivation.

According to some foreign importers, small-scale production, little contact with potential foreign customers and virtually no Internet access to e-commerce limits industry development.

Advantages

Unlike other sectors such as the apparel industry, which relies on imported materials, handicraft manufacturers could develop adequate supplies of local materials.

The sectors import materials make up only 3-5 percent of the value of a handicraft item.

According to economists statistics, if $1 million in added value was generated by handicraft makers, the garment sector would have to obtain revenue of $4.7 million to earn an equivalent value.

Additionally handicrafts exports are not subject to quantitative restrictions by importing countries.

MoT reported that Vietnamese handicraft shipments to the European market have grown incredibly recent years, accounting for one-tenth of EU imports behind China and Thailand.

The sector has also moved into new markets such as Africa and Southwest Asia with shipments there growing steadily into the easy-going markets.

Targets

The handicraft sector has set an ambitious plan to export $1.5 billion worth of handicraft products.

To obtain the target, MoT Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) in co-ordination with the International Trade Center has implemented a project o support trade promotion and export development with a greater focus on handicraft exports.

The project has assisted the sector work out a plan to develop raw materials and study latest processing technology.

Additionally local handicraft enterprises would be encouraged to market their products overseas and seek new potential importers as well.