A shoulder basket is the easiest way to carry a bit of Morocco around town. Woven by hand from doum palm and finished with genuine leather, it is light, roomy and made to be worn on the shoulder for market mornings, beach days and everyday errands. At Green Doum we offer 41 shoulder baskets in the shoulder baskets collection, and this guide helps you pick the one that suits you.
What makes a Moroccan shoulder basket special
Every basket is woven by Moroccan artisans from doum palm, a plant fibre that dries into a light, natural-looking fabric. The leather handles are fixed to the weave and keep their shape when the basket is full. Because each piece is handmade, the texture of the palm and the shade of the leather differ slightly from one basket to the next, which is part of the charm.
Choose your size
Our shoulder baskets measure from about 26 to 43 cm long, 10 to 25 cm wide and 26 to 50 cm high, and the bigger ones are named by size from L to XXL. A compact basket holds a phone, wallet and keys with room for a book; the extra-large beach baskets carry a towel, sunscreen and a picnic. Think about what you carry most days, then pick the smallest size that fits it comfortably.
Handles, leather and colours
Long leather handles sit comfortably on the shoulder or across the body, and double or braided handles spread the weight. Our shoulder baskets come in natural, camel and brown leather, and a few in black, so you can match the handles to your style: natural for a light summer look, brown for a classic one.
Our picks
- Marrakech Palm Leaf Basket with Long Leather Handles – L – 37 × 16 × 40 cm; colours: Brown, Camel, Natural
- Marrakech Palm Leaf Basket with Double Leather Handles – L – 37 × 16 × 40 cm; colours: Brown, Camel, Natural
- Large Beach Towel Basket with Leather Straps and Doum Handle – XXL – 40 × 25 × 50 cm
- Straw Shoulder Basket with Braided Leather Handle – XXL – 40 × 25 × 50 cm; colours: Brown, Camel, Natural
- Straw Shoulder Basket with Leather Handle – XXL – 40 × 25 × 50 cm; colours: Brown, Camel, Natural
How to wear it
A shoulder basket pairs with linen, cotton and simple dresses in summer, and with a knit and jeans in spring. On the beach it works as a towel basket; in town it replaces a tote. Fill it, hang it on your shoulder and it keeps the weight close to your body.
Make it yours
Many of our baskets and bags can be personalised: add a name or a short text and choose the colour of the lettering from our palette of 27 thread colours. See all the personalised pieces.
How to care for it
Keep the palm weave dry: avoid soaking it, and if it gets wet, shake off the water, shape it by hand and let it dry flat in the shade. When you are not using it, stuff it lightly with paper and store it away from damp. The leather is genuine leather, so it softens and darkens naturally with use and gains character over time.
Frequently asked questions
Is every basket exactly the same? No. Because each piece is handmade, dimensions and shades vary slightly from one item to the next.
Can I carry heavy things in it? The weave and the stitched leather handles are made for everyday loads such as shopping, a towel or a picnic. For very heavy loads, choose a model with double handles.
Which size should I choose? Compare the length, width and height in each product page with the bag you use now, and choose the next size up if you often carry a lot.
Shop shoulder baskets
Browse the whole collection in our shoulder baskets section, or read about hand-carried baskets. Our family has worked with these materials since 1962 – learn more about our family business.
We ship with DHL: allow about 3 to 10 working days for Europe and 7 to 12 working days for the USA and Canada, counted from the order date. Customs fees and taxes are not included. Read our delivery and returns page for the full conditions, or contact us with any question.
More guides: Moroccan straw baskets and bags: how to choose · Hand-carried baskets · Straw shoulder bags · Straw backpacks.
