Le Papillon Vert French Baskets

Love the idea of something that is made from sustainable, natural products which can be used again and again? Strong and beautiful, useful and chic, our Le Papillon Vert (TM) baskets epitomise today’s more thoughtful approach to our global environment. Working with skilled artisans, we design and produce a unique hand-made item that will be cherished for years to come.

Our founder, Rebecca stayed at a French Chateau in the Dordogne region of France with her family in 2007. With a small baby and a toddler, shopping at the local markets daily became the rather enjoyable routine. The Chateau had a selection of baskets for guests to use, and as France had just introduced the plastic carrier bag charge, this was a useful and cost-effective (not to mention environmentally friendly) way to shop. What a great idea! Stylish yet strong, simple yet chic.

Having just left a successful career in FMCG Buying, Rebecca was keen to progress the idea and in 2010, Le Papillon Vert Ltd, selling French Market Baskets was born. Starting with sourcing a good product, developing strong branding, building a basic website and trading from stalls at lovely country fairs, the business has gone from strength to strength.

Owner Rebecca comments: “As the business grew, securing better suppliers became the priority and as a result, not only did the consistency and quality improve, we were also able to spec and design our own ranges. This was ground-breaking in this market and launched us firmly into the wholesale business. Trade customers could see that we could provide them with a quality designer-type product that had real kerb appeal.”

Today, with ever-increasing demand for attractive eco-friendly bags, the business is still very much baskets-focussed, although Hammam Towels have also become a firm favourite and a brand synergy.

Le Papillon Vert Baskets are now available in fabulous retail outlets, online retailers and at upmarket fairs literally across the world. With an emphasis on style and quality, together with great customer service, the demand for Le Papillon Vert’s Baskets has never been stronger. Shipping to customers in the UK and all over the world, Le Papillon Vert is now a truly Global brand. 

Sourced from specialist artisans, Le Papillon Vert Baskets are carefully checked to ensure the highest quality standards.

“Sourcing good quality, consistent baskets is a minefield. There are so many middle men, and it is a question of sorting the best from the rest. Our customers appreciate the fact that we find the best possible quality, and the resulting reviews speak for themselves.” says Rebecca

‘It is relatively easy for retailers to buy from any old supplier, but the key is in defining the specification in the first place. After this, choosing the right supplier, implementing excellent quality control practises and working with suppliers to ensure the best production methods is paramount. Even though the baskets are handmade by many different artisans, this is still possible if the right processes are in place. We do not want artisans to be disillusioned through a lack of communication as to our needs, to find lots of rejects once the goods have shipped, and we certainly don’t want to sell second quality products to our customers. We also want them to be paid good money for the work they do. We get great feedback, and we are proud of our quality and service. If you want to buy a beautiful, long lasting french style basket reliably, we are the place to buy from.’

It is for this reason, that demand dictated the supply of Wholesale French Baskets to the many retail and Trade businesses across the world. We are proud to have relationships with many small shops, retail chains and artists who embellish our baskets, selling them at a premium for their clever artistry. If you are eligible for a Trade account, please register for a Wholesale login.

Retail Standard (Royal Mail 48) Tracked Shipping is free to UK addresses (over £50 spend), with upgrades available at cost; and we offer a low cost Global delivery service, priding ourselves on the shortest possible delivery times. UK and Global Wholesale Shipping, to registered Trade customers only, starts at just £15 for next day DHL delivery.