The strength of the basket depends on how firmly the stitches are pulled. Today, baskets of great variability are constructed by modifying the amounts of these materials to create subtle changes of tone and radical change of texture. The development of South Carolina's barrier islands and beach fronts has increased the areas economic prosperity and tourism which has been helpful to the basketmakers. However, changes in land ownership, land use and lifestyles have destroyed many plant communities or restricted access to remaining local sweetgrass habitats. Expensive and long journeys to Georgia or Florida are now necessary to gather raw materials.
Political help is needed to preserve and protect natural sweetgrass habitats from destruction.
Research is needed to learn how to domesticate this wild plant and cultivate sweetgrass as a row crop. The traditional basket stands along the Ocean Highway are being unintentionally forced out of the community by construction of shopping malls and business parks with road frontage along the highway. These stands have been located on this highway for over 60 years. The display of African baskets has been a major source of income for many basketmakers as well as providing tourists an appreciation of the beauty, significance, and value of this ancient art form. The danger in displacement from traditional marketing areas is that basketmakers would have very few alternatives to sell their baskets in highly visible locations.