Hippolyta the Hippo Bag | Wicker Darling

Our bags are handmade by our female-run, family-owned ateliers in the Philippines! 

They’re made from sustainable rattan (wicker refers to the method of weaving, rattan is the material). Rattan is a naturally renewable palm which can be sustainably harvested, which makes it an environmentally friendly alternative to forest logging. 

Our rattan is harvested by hand, from local farmers and co-ops - minimising carbon footprint while supporting local growers. 

This cultivation, harvest and use of rattan provides livelihoods to people throughout Asia and helps keep traditional Filipino craftsmanship alive. 

The bags are lined with either linen (sourced from flax), or cotton (sourced from ... cotton).

We aim to reduce our environmental footprint as much as possible, and to provide meaningful, fairly paid employment opportunities to our Filipino artisans. 

That’s why our bags are crafted from sustainably, ethically harvested rattan sourced from local co-ops and farms. This supports their communities and minimises the distance the materials travel. 

The rattan used is sustainably grown, harvested by hand, and any by-products are composted. 

They’re then woven by talented people skilled in traditional techniques, keeping the craft alive and creating employment and micro-business opportunities in marginalised communities. 

Due to unavoidable material shortages and supply delays, our ateliers may occasionally need to substitute materials during production, leading to differences between the sample and finished bags. 

Usually these will be minor, such as substitutions to hardware on bags. 

Where we feel a substitution is significant (such as different colour leather strap), we will contact you to confirm if you’re happy to go ahead or would prefer to cancel your order.

Because our items are handcrafted from natural materials, each and every bag will have minor differences — whether it's in the wicker, leather work, placement of finishings such as ears, eyes and tails, or in the dyeing of the raffia. 

These are not faults, but rather a signature of hand craftsmanship from natural materials. These characteristics are part of what makes our small batch items a unique and limited edition piece of art.

No, we are unable to offer custom changes to our bags, no matter how large or small. It creates a logistical nightmare along the entire line, from us having to keep track of who has ordered which change, to the production manager, atelier, workers etc who have to track that one bag different from the rest. We respectfully ask that you don't request customisations to your individual bag, as the answer will always be a hard no. 

One of the best things about a Wicker Darling bag is knowing it’s a (delightful) rarity to see them in the wild. 

Unlike a mass produced piece you’ll see everywhere, they’re designed to be limited edition and exclusive. Each one even comes with a hand-numbered collectors card!

That’s why we typically retire our older designs once they've been released a couple of times (or if the first release was particularly huge).

We’ve also been known to release retired designs, with a fresh look, so if you have your heart set on a past bag, keep your eyes peeled.