Natural woven baskets garner a unique, original quality from a mix of materials and weaving details, offering a practical storage & display solution in various spaces. However, all of this comes at a price. Made with natural materials by the locals, the handicrafts may have potential defects after mass production. And this is where quality inspection comes into play.
Why Might Natural Woven Baskets Have Defects?
The reasons why natural woven baskets can be faulty are manifold. First, most natural materials possess a hygroscopic property, making them fragile and susceptible to mold. Rattan and bamboo, in particular, are highly vulnerable to termites – tiny little bugs that can cause big damage to basket quality. Each material owns a distinct color tone that varies according to harvest season, region, and species.
Secondly, 100% consistency cannot be achieved due to the nature of handicraft production. It is often acceptable to include subtle variances (below 5%) in size, shape, and color among products. Weaving techniques and craftsmanship standards also differ depending on region and local craft village.
Finally, each production area has different ways of processing materials. Bleaching, oil curing, and thermal steaming do not happen in the same manner. There are often no standard formulas to add colors on natural woven baskets, namely dyeing or painting. The inspection criteria for basket quality might also diversify according to in-house quality control (QC) staff or third parties.
How To Identify Quality Natural Woven Baskets Wholesale
Baskets should conform to general requirements
Here is the first important thing to know when you buy baskets in bulk. The final products must be identical to the pre-production sample which the order is based on. Good baskets should follow exact specifications as what both sides initially agree, including dimensions, shape, color, texture, weaving style, pattern, lid type, and basket handle.
More specifically, the iron frames (if any) must be rust-proof with solid joints. This factor will make a sturdy shape – which means baskets will not get deformed over time, and can withstand weight, environment, as well as day-to-day wear and tear. If natural woven baskets consist of nails, they should be hidden carefully to ensure the aesthetics and safety to users.
Baskets should have no molds and pest attack
If you leave natural woven baskets wet for a few days, you will see black or white mildew growing on the surface, which consequently affects their quality. Hence, make sure that your suppliers process and preserve baskets properly, so that they have no mold and mildew when they arrive at your location.
What’s more, wholesale woven baskets must be well processed to prevent pest attack. It is mandatory for producers to treat rattan and bamboo such as oil-curing or steaming. Otherwise, termites and pests will likely appear and do harm to baskets. In case of termites, fumigation is required to eliminate them from baskets.
Baskets should reach the standard moisture content
Each material has different standards of moisture content, and they vary vastly according to the import region. To illustrate, the moisture content recommended for seagrass and water hyacinth homewares is 12-23%, while the figure for rattan and bamboo products is 8-16%. The excessive moisture can cause baskets to get mold and weak in quality.
Asides from having suitable moisture content, natural woven baskets need to be dried and stored well. Prolonged sunlight exposure or intense temperature in the drying room can make some materials become too brittle and shorten their lifetime.
Baskets should be highly durable and functional
A visible sign of a durable basket lies in its fine weave. For example, with coiled seagrass, woven baskets should leave no gaps between seagrass circles, or have even space between coiling threads. Poor and broken weaving indicates that a basket won’t stand the test of time and typically has a sloppy, inconsistent appearance. In some cases, loading test should be implemented to make sure the baskets have strong weave and function well for storage.
When you buy baskets in bulk, also take into account of glueing. Natural woven baskets must be dipped with a sufficient amount of glue to make their structure stand firm. The gluing technique is applicable to all types of materials, especially ones without iron frames and solid joints.
Baskets should be well trimmed and cleaned
The process of trimming should be employed for most of woven baskets wholesale. It involves cutting off redundant parts of main materials or sub-materials, namely seagrass strands, bamboo fibers, plastic strings. The final product, moreover, must be cleaned in a thoughtful, comprehensive manner with no dirt such as soil, sand, ink stains, or strands of hair.
Baskets should have good coloring
As required, colors must be applied evenly and do not smear. The paint finish must not peel or display a patchy color coating. Having said that, colors dyed on natural materials might be uneven and deviate from the required standards.
Color smearing can also occur when producers weave natural strands with color-dyed ones together. Moreover, the paint finish will be susceptible to peeling, whether it is applied on flat surfaces (pressed seagrass) or rough ones (e.g. twisted/ braided seagrass).
Baskets should have good-quality accessories
There’s more to a quality woven basket than just the basket itself. With designs featuring extra touches such as handles, brass hinges, or other decorative elements, the accessories must meet the required quality specifications, which are as follows:
- Metal accessories do not rust and are firmly attached.
- Plastic, cloth, and wool accessories are attached securely as requested.
- Plastic linings perfectly fit the product and are stitched tightly with evenly distributed stitches and without any perforation.
- Wooden legs are firmly installed and have a uniform color.
How To Buy Baskets In Bulk With High Quality?
To easily choose a reliable producer, the first thing is to find areas specializing in production and materials. For instance, if you plan to buy seagrass products, we recommend working with suppliers that source this material from Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, and Thai Binh. The provinces have large production of high-quality seagrass – with even stem diameter, great plasticity, and wonderful natural hues.
Also, you should work with suppliers with expertise in handicrafts production and export. They have well-trained labor, efficient planning and accurate quality control, which will reduce the possibility of production errors or extended lead time. Here are several famous craft villages: Kim Son (Ninh Binh), Phu Vinh (Ha Noi), and Ngoc Dong (Ha Nam), where you could find experienced producers in basket weaving.
Finally, natural woven baskets necessitate much attention to detail and ability of the craftspeople, thus they are subject to workmanship defects. Therefore, in order to establish a relationship and avoid miscommunication, fully clarify the standards and all specifications, including material, design, color, weaving style, pattern, finish, labeling, packaging, and shipping when you start to buy baskets in bulk.
Keys Takeaways
Quality inspection is crucial in any product sourcing. We are offering the above information so that you can better understand what is considered truly high quality in natural woven baskets wholesale. Consider these criteria before all else as they play a crucial role in ensuring they meet your expectations when you buy baskets in bulk.
