Create Your Own Sweetgrass Basket: A Gullah Heritage Experience at Charleston City Market
Established in 1804, the Charleston City Market stands as one of America’s oldest public markets, hosting over 300 local vendors, including 56 master sweetgrass basket weavers. Among them is Corey Alston, a fifth‑generation artisan whose skill and warm personality have earned him a prominent spot at the market’s front entrance.
Corey has spent 14 years refining his craft, and he is passionate about preserving the Gullah cultural legacy. The Gullah people, descendants of West African communities, have left an indelible mark on Lowcountry cuisine, music, and art. Sweetgrass baskets—originally used to winnow rice on plantations—now represent a treasured form of indigenous craftsmanship, with pieces displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.
To blend tradition with modern technology, Corey developed the “Build Your Sweetgrass Basket” app, a 3‑D configuration tool that lets you design a unique basket. Choose from a variety of bases, rims, lids, handles, and intricate details, and the app will estimate cost and completion time.
Whether you custom‑design a basket to take home or visit the lively Charleston City Market to witness the artistry firsthand, you’ll leave with a tangible piece of Gullah heritage.
