Bicycle basket birch wicker Lastu

A basket in a bicycle basket - the designers at Verso Design were certainly not the first to come up with this clever idea, but it has rarely been implemented as beautifully as here. The sturdy basket made of black lacquered wire holds a second basket made of woven birch wood. The wood is cut into wide but very thin strips to give it the flexibility required for weaving. The bicycle basket is given stability by doubling the strips and reinforcing the edge of the basket opening with thicker strips of wood. Baskets like these, made from woven, mostly untreated birch wood, have an age-old tradition in Finland and the Baltic States, as does the manufacturing technique. Such baskets can be found in every household in a wide variety of sizes, where they prove their practical usefulness as sorting aids or organizing utensils. As a bicycle basket, the birch wood basket now leaves the safety of home.

It owes its mobility not only to the wire frame - which can be attached to both the handlebars and the luggage rack - but also to the two carrying handles made of vegetable-tanned cowhide. This means you can also use the basket as a shopping bag. With a capacity of 17 liters, the bike basket is the right size for storing picnic tins and drinks as well as a blanket or jacket, for example. You just need to pay a little attention to the weight of the contents to be stored. A birch wicker basket is sturdy, but not a heavy-duty carrier. And due to the untreated wooden surface, it is not intended for permanent outdoor use, especially in persistent damp and wet conditions - but don't worry, the material can withstand a rain shower. And like many untreated surfaces of natural materials, it will also take on a patina with time and use, turning the bike basket into a unique individual piece. And now happy cycling.

What initially began as a mother-daughter venture in 1997 quickly grew into a renowned Finnish design label. Since then, Kirsikka Savonen and her two daughters Tuttu Sillanpää and Tuuli Burmann have been designing everyday objects for the home, kitchen and office in Helsinki. Functionality is paramount, as is the use of natural materials such as linen, cotton and virgin wool or wool felt and - of course - wood. After all, Finland is rich in forest areas and wood has always been an important raw material and livelihood for the people. In the 19th century, the wood processing industry experienced a massive boom, but the nature-loving Finns manage their forests so prudently that today 86% of the country is still forested. It goes without saying that the designers at Verso Design not only draw materials and inspiration from nature, but also produce in an ecologically clean manner. Unmistakable is the traditional Finnish design of the products, which fit uncomplicatedly into any environment thanks to modern revision.