Toino Abel is located in Coz-Alcobaça, a Portuguese town with a strong basketry heritage. Its handmade reed baskets reflect the revival of a dying craft in an aging community thanks to Nuno Henriques who founded the brand in 2010, naming it after his grandfather. Nuno initially studied Fine Arts and moved to Berlin but his roots caught up with him after attending a funeral and hearing lamenting stories from elderly basket weavers about the end of their craft. Compelled to act, he returned to his natal countryside to work alongside the remaining craftsmen.

Ten years later, each contemporary collection, designed in the workshop, is made using local ancestral weaving and hand sewing techniques. The reed is grown nearby and other materials such as leather, metal pieces and cotton are eco-friendly. Conscious that craft needs innovation to survive, Toino Abel’s young team continually research new raw materials, fresh weaving techniques and patterns so as to propel their crafting community into the future.