The Wicker Revival: How an Ancient Craft is Finding New Life

Is wicker about to weave its way back into our homes? Last week, the trailer for the upcoming film Wicker made its debut on our screens, and it has already captured plenty of attention. Since its release, excitement surrounding the fantasy-inspired story has been impossible to ignore. It may be steeped in age-old traditions, but there’s nothing dusty, crusty or forgotten about this tale of love, longing and a rather unexpected creation.

Adapted from Bristol-based writer Ursula Wills-Jones’ novel The Wicker Husband, the film stars Olivia Colman as an ostracised fisherwoman who has never found “the one” and whose search for love takes her somewhere unexpected. After years of teasing from the townspeople, a life spent alone, and even a few less-than-serious marriage proposals, she turns to the village basket weaver, played by Peter Dinklage, to make her a husband.

But this is no ordinary creation. The basket weaver forms a beautifully woven wicker man, played by Alexander Skarsgård, that is not only life-size but a living, breathing creation brought to life. What follows is an enchanting and unconventional love story that promises to leave audiences gasping, giggling and perhaps viewing wicker in a whole new light.

Beyond the plot, it is the artistry behind the wicker man that makes the film truly remarkable. Directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson reportedly decided early in production that ‘the wicker husband could not be created as a fully digital character’, opting for practical effects and painstaking costume design to transform Alexander Skarsgård’s character from a handcrafted creation into a believable, living presence on screen.

The character’s creation was a true collaboration between traditional craftsmanship and modern filmmaking. To bring the husband to life, Wicker enlisted the expertise of Wētā Workshop’s art director and prosthetic makeup designer Joe Dunckley, alongside makeup and hair designer Sarah Rubano, who are renowned for their work on some of cinema’s most visually ambitious worlds, including The Lord of the Rings, Avatar and Dune.

Rather than relying solely on digital effects, Skarsgård’s transformation was achieved through a fully functional handcrafted costume and prosthetics. His suit featured a custom 3D-printed shell moulded to his body, with real wicker carefully woven over the surface to create an authentic texture. Digital effects were then used sparingly to enhance the illusion, making the spaces between the woven fibres appear hollow and natural, much like a real wicker basket.

While Wicker may bring this ancient craft into the realm of fantasy, the story behind the material itself is far from fictional. In fact, wickerwork has been part of British life for thousands of years. Archaeological discoveries have uncovered wicker trackways and other artefacts dating back more than 3,000 years to the Bronze Age, offering a glimpse into just how deeply these skills are rooted in our landscapes and everyday lives.

By the time of the Roman invasion, basketry was already so widespread across Britain that local tribes were reportedly exporting their woven wares to Rome. From practical baskets and fishing traps to household objects and tools, weaving natural materials was an essential part of life, and a highly skilled craft in its own right.

There is an important distinction to make here: wicker isn't actually a material; it refers to a style of weaving. The word itself is thought to have Scandinavian roots, with possible connections to Danish viger and Middle Swedish viker, meaning “willow” or “willow branch”, as well as the Old Norse vika, meaning “to bend or turn”; a fitting connection to the action of shaping and interlacing flexible plant materials.

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Over time, the term came to describe the technique of interlacing these natural fibres to create something strong, sturdy and functional. Willow is the material most closely associated with British wickerwork, but wicker can be made using a variety of natural materials, including reeds, rushes, grasses and other flexible stems.

This versatility meant that wickerwork could be found wherever the landscape provided suitable materials. Willow, in particular, became synonymous with British basketry thanks to its flexibility, strength and fast growth. The wet landscapes of the Somerset Levels provided ideal conditions for cultivating the plant, and generations of growers and basketmakers have harvested and woven willow into everything from traditional baskets and furniture to intricate sculptural pieces.

It is this relationship between landscape, material and maker that makes British wickerwork so fascinating. What may appear to be a simple woven object is often the result of generations of knowledge: understanding when to harvest the willow, how to prepare it, how to manipulate each stem and how to weave it into something both beautiful and functional.

Today, that relationship between craftsmanship, nature and design is experiencing something of a renaissance. One of the most charming signs of its revival can be found in our gardens and allotments. As more of us embrace growing our own fruit and vegetables, foraging and reconnecting with the seasons, beautifully crafted trugs and harvesting baskets have become the perfect companions for collecting the fruits of our labour. There is something rather satisfying about gathering a homegrown harvest into a basket made from natural materials; it feels like an old tradition finding its way back into modern life.

Don’t be mistaken in believing that wicker’s revival is confined to gardens and hedgerows; it has also retained its long-standing place in the world of luxury. The humble basket has long been synonymous with the British hamper, transforming the simple act of gifting food and drink into something altogether more special. Even some of Britain’s most prestigious retailers continue to put craftsmanship at the heart of their hampers. Fortnum & Mason, for example, uses baskets made by Coates English Willow, a Somerset-based company specialising in traditionally crafted willow products. It is a lovely reminder that, even at the luxury end of the market, there is still value in something made by hand.

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Wicker is finding its way back into our furniture, too, bringing natural textures and a touch of nostalgia into our homes. These pieces may never have truly disappeared, but they are enjoying renewed attention as we look to reduce plastic consumption and bring more character into the spaces around us. For those looking to recreate the unmistakable look of the 1970s, few pieces are quite as iconic as the Peacock Chair, with its elaborate frame and wonderfully theatrical silhouette. Its distinctive shape feels just as at home in a contemporary interior today as it did decades ago.

That same appreciation is spilling out into our gardens. As we turn our outdoor spaces into our own little pockets of paradise, wicker furniture is taking centre stage once again, offering a more considered alternative to the plastic options that have dominated gardens for decades. There is something about the warmth and texture of a woven chair or table that feels far more at home amongst greenery, flowers and the great British outdoors.

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The appeal of wicker has always extended beyond the home, though. Few objects demonstrate this quite as well as the trusty picnic basket. Hardy, long-lasting and effortlessly charming, it is one of those rare pieces that never really goes out of style. In a world increasingly obsessed with aesthetics, the wicker picnic basket has the added advantage of looking good while remaining wonderfully practical. Packed up for a summer afternoon in the countryside, carried down to the beach or filled with goodies for a day out, it has an enduring charm that plastic cannot replicate.

It is little surprise that this same aesthetic has found its way into our wardrobes. Each summer, wicker and basket-style handbags make their return, bringing a touch of timeless picnic-chic to contemporary fashion. From traditional basket shapes to polished designer interpretations, woven bags have become something of a warm-weather staple, proving that this humble craft is just as at home on our arms as it is in our living spaces.

One of the most unexpected developments, however, is happening at the very end of life. As conversations around sustainability encourage us to reconsider everything from what we buy to how we travel, our funeral customs are also beginning to evolve. Wicker coffins are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional coffins, offering a more eco-friendly, biodegradable option. Made from materials such as willow, bamboo and other plant fibres, they bring the qualities that have made wicker so enduring, from natural materials and skilled craftsmanship to thoughtful design, into one of life’s final rituals.

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From a freshly gathered harvest to a summer picnic, a luxury hamper to a garden chair, a handbag to a final resting place, wicker has quietly woven itself back into modern life. Perhaps, then, Wicker isn't really heralding the material's comeback at all. Maybe it is simply reminding us that it never truly went away.