Craftsmen/women - Papua New Guinea's finest

How a bilum (string bag) is made

Art requires certain skills and it is obvious that Papua New Guinea has got some of those talents that are hidden that needs to be exposed. Bilum (string bag) making is done mostly by women because men do not have the skills and the know-how to make this spectacular designs.

Nevertheless, men in some of the most remote areas are breaking the barrier in doing some of the finest string bags in Papua New Guinea. One of the obstacles in this art of making string bags is a proper venue to sell and show-cast their skills.

( Women making bilums - considered a past-time activity but economically viable)

The bilum is a traditional PNG string bag and have been made in PNG for centuries. Bilums come in a variety of shapes and styles and are made for different purposes. Bilums are made to carry food, to carry babies in and to use for leisure. People can identify a person just by the creative design or style woven on the bilum. Despite the many different aspects and purposes of bilums they all are made from the same basic weaving method. In Papua New Guinea the fibre normally used in traditional bilum making is manufactured from the inner bark of the wild tulip tree. First the bark is soaked in a stream or the sea for up to 8 months until the material that binds the bark twine together rots.

(Women love doing what they do best in PNG style)

Then the bark is dried and the strands of bark are separated before the woman (usually women however sometime men as the example of the Huti Tribesmen from the Highlands) will rub the bark with her hand on her thigh to produce the strands of twine. There is a whole range of methods for dyeing the twine. Sometimes the twine is rubbed on a white stone and the result is like the Bilum pictured - pure white. Another method is to soak the twine in mud before weaving. Slate stone, orchid bark and roots; jungle grasses are some of the materials used to produce dye. Burnt shell is often used to make the dye fast. Some special seashells area also crushed to produce a dark red dye. The end result is often striking especially the earthy colors.

(A woman is in a process of making a bilum (string bag)

Papua New Guinea's bulk of the population (95%) live in the rural areas and it is difficult to generate an income. Had the government provided a better market for this very skillful craftsmen and women, they would have earned an honest income to support their families, which most of these families live on less than five kina ($2) a day or no money at all. The biggest buyers of all these string bags are the tourist from all around the world.

Whenever, tourist enter Papua New Guinea shores, they at least take something with them to remember they moments in the 'land of the unexpected' (Papua New Guinea). Because of the constant increase in the number of tourist entering Papua New Guinea, the number of women who make string bags had increase in the last couple of years. For men and women who don't have a formal education and a decent job, they use their talents into good use to generate some income for them and their families.

(Young women show-off their custom designed outfits)

Some of these craftsmen are talented that they can customized your order to suit your needs. Completing a string bag depends on how sizes, materials, money, and designs requested. Typically, it takes a week for some while others take two weeks to complete. String bags can come in different sizes and colors to suit your needs. Recently some of these craftsmen custom -design the flags of certain countries so that the color depicts what flags stand for. To view some of these dynamic artwork , check the bottom of this blog for pictures by various travellers who visited Papua New Guinea.

The skills in making such stunning designs such as bilum making is not learned but rather a gift from God that men and women seem to utlize these days. Not only does making bilums provides little cash but it helps families to accumulate much needed funds to cater for hefty school fees. For the bulk of people who live in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea, this is just another good story to help make their lives easier.

Craftsmen/women - Papua New Guinea's finest

How a bilum (string bag) is made

Art requires certain skills and it is obvious that Papua New Guinea has got some of those talents that are hidden that needs to be exposed. Bilum (string bag) making is done mostly by women because men do not have the skills and the know-how to make this spectacular designs.

Nevertheless, men in some of the most remote areas are breaking the barrier in doing some of the finest string bags in Papua New Guinea. One of the obstacles in this art of making string bags is a proper venue to sell and show-cast their skills.

( Women making bilums - considered a past-time activity but economically viable)

The bilum is a traditional PNG string bag and have been made in PNG for centuries. Bilums come in a variety of shapes and styles and are made for different purposes. Bilums are made to carry food, to carry babies in and to use for leisure. People can identify a person just by the creative design or style woven on the bilum. Despite the many different aspects and purposes of bilums they all are made from the same basic weaving method. In Papua New Guinea the fibre normally used in traditional bilum making is manufactured from the inner bark of the wild tulip tree. First the bark is soaked in a stream or the sea for up to 8 months until the material that binds the bark twine together rots.

(Women love doing what they do best in PNG style)

Then the bark is dried and the strands of bark are separated before the woman (usually women however sometime men as the example of the Huti Tribesmen from the Highlands) will rub the bark with her hand on her thigh to produce the strands of twine. There is a whole range of methods for dyeing the twine. Sometimes the twine is rubbed on a white stone and the result is like the Bilum pictured - pure white. Another method is to soak the twine in mud before weaving. Slate stone, orchid bark and roots; jungle grasses are some of the materials used to produce dye. Burnt shell is often used to make the dye fast. Some special seashells area also crushed to produce a dark red dye. The end result is often striking especially the earthy colors.

(A woman is in a process of making a bilum (string bag)

Papua New Guinea's bulk of the population (95%) live in the rural areas and it is difficult to generate an income. Had the government provided a better market for this very skillful craftsmen and women, they would have earned an honest income to support their families, which most of these families live on less than five kina ($2) a day or no money at all. The biggest buyers of all these string bags are the tourist from all around the world.

Whenever, tourist enter Papua New Guinea shores, they at least take something with them to remember they moments in the 'land of the unexpected' (Papua New Guinea). Because of the constant increase in the number of tourist entering Papua New Guinea, the number of women who make string bags had increase in the last couple of years. For men and women who don't have a formal education and a decent job, they use their talents into good use to generate some income for them and their families.

(Young women show-off their custom designed outfits)

Some of these craftsmen are talented that they can customized your order to suit your needs. Completing a string bag depends on how sizes, materials, money, and designs requested. Typically, it takes a week for some while others take two weeks to complete. String bags can come in different sizes and colors to suit your needs. Recently some of these craftsmen custom -design the flags of certain countries so that the color depicts what flags stand for. To view some of these dynamic artwork , check the bottom of this blog for pictures by various travellers who visited Papua New Guinea.

The skills in making such stunning designs such as bilum making is not learned but rather a gift from God that men and women seem to utlize these days. Not only does making bilums provides little cash but it helps families to accumulate much needed funds to cater for hefty school fees. For the bulk of people who live in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea, this is just another good story to help make their lives easier.

Craftsmen/women - Papua New Guinea's finest

How a bilum (string bag) is made

Art requires certain skills and it is obvious that Papua New Guinea has got some of those talents that are hidden that needs to be exposed. Bilum (string bag) making is done mostly by women because men do not have the skills and the know-how to make this spectacular designs.

Nevertheless, men in some of the most remote areas are breaking the barrier in doing some of the finest string bags in Papua New Guinea. One of the obstacles in this art of making string bags is a proper venue to sell and show-cast their skills.

( Women making bilums - considered a past-time activity but economically viable)

The bilum is a traditional PNG string bag and have been made in PNG for centuries. Bilums come in a variety of shapes and styles and are made for different purposes. Bilums are made to carry food, to carry babies in and to use for leisure. People can identify a person just by the creative design or style woven on the bilum. Despite the many different aspects and purposes of bilums they all are made from the same basic weaving method. In Papua New Guinea the fibre normally used in traditional bilum making is manufactured from the inner bark of the wild tulip tree. First the bark is soaked in a stream or the sea for up to 8 months until the material that binds the bark twine together rots.

(Women love doing what they do best in PNG style)

Then the bark is dried and the strands of bark are separated before the woman (usually women however sometime men as the example of the Huti Tribesmen from the Highlands) will rub the bark with her hand on her thigh to produce the strands of twine. There is a whole range of methods for dyeing the twine. Sometimes the twine is rubbed on a white stone and the result is like the Bilum pictured - pure white. Another method is to soak the twine in mud before weaving. Slate stone, orchid bark and roots; jungle grasses are some of the materials used to produce dye. Burnt shell is often used to make the dye fast. Some special seashells area also crushed to produce a dark red dye. The end result is often striking especially the earthy colors.

(A woman is in a process of making a bilum (string bag)

Papua New Guinea's bulk of the population (95%) live in the rural areas and it is difficult to generate an income. Had the government provided a better market for this very skillful craftsmen and women, they would have earned an honest income to support their families, which most of these families live on less than five kina ($2) a day or no money at all. The biggest buyers of all these string bags are the tourist from all around the world.

Whenever, tourist enter Papua New Guinea shores, they at least take something with them to remember they moments in the 'land of the unexpected' (Papua New Guinea). Because of the constant increase in the number of tourist entering Papua New Guinea, the number of women who make string bags had increase in the last couple of years. For men and women who don't have a formal education and a decent job, they use their talents into good use to generate some income for them and their families.

(Young women show-off their custom designed outfits)

Some of these craftsmen are talented that they can customized your order to suit your needs. Completing a string bag depends on how sizes, materials, money, and designs requested. Typically, it takes a week for some while others take two weeks to complete. String bags can come in different sizes and colors to suit your needs. Recently some of these craftsmen custom -design the flags of certain countries so that the color depicts what flags stand for. To view some of these dynamic artwork , check the bottom of this blog for pictures by various travellers who visited Papua New Guinea.

The skills in making such stunning designs such as bilum making is not learned but rather a gift from God that men and women seem to utlize these days. Not only does making bilums provides little cash but it helps families to accumulate much needed funds to cater for hefty school fees. For the bulk of people who live in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea, this is just another good story to help make their lives easier.

Living through Art and Craft - The Papua New Guinea Way

Papua New Guinea art and crafts designs are made locally by talented men and women who have no formal education. Most of these folks live in the villages in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea. Because there is lack of transportation, some of these men and women walk 2 - 3 days to sell their bags (bilums), crafts, and carvings. The number of craftsmen and women who spend time in using their talents is overwhelming but there are no proper markets. Some of them get lucky when they reach a nearby town or airport to sell their products but others aren’t so lucky. In a month or so, they make less than sixty kina ($20).
Below are some of the bags (bilums), hats, necklaces, and carvings most women and men in the remote parts of Papua New Guinea make to support their families as a form of income. Some of these pictures were taken at Kagamuga Airport in Mount Hagen, WHP by David Ketepa during his recent trip to Papua New Guinea.

One of the motives of writing this blog is also to expose the activities in the villages of Papua New Guinea to help the disfranchise and the underprivileged so that they can be part of the community through community-based activities. The activities involved in this regard doesn't happen in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea but rather throughout the country especially in the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea.

I have spent the last 27 years in Papua New Guinea and six years in the United States. Growing up in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea, I've seen people enduring the agony of trying to sell their produce as well as their art and craft handiwork at a proper market. Therefore, having this information on my blog might interest others around the world to help assist these womenfolk as well as to help them expose their hidden talents. Most of the work done by these women are for church, fellowship, and non-governmental organizations to enhance their community based activities

However, the most obvious hindrance in selling their produce and the art and craft work is a proper market niche and therefore this information is a mechanism for a possible an awareness campaign that indeed there are magnificent art and crafts throughout the corners of Papa New Guinea. All profits generated through the sale of all these art is used to sustain a family or put back to the rural communities in Papua New Guinea to boost their self-reliance projects.

Today bilums are custom-designed to be worn in any formal setting. Bilums will always be useful in these areas but they have over years changed their shapes, colors, designs and uses. Thanks to creative, innovative and talented weavers the bilum has broken out of the domestic domain now turning heads and catching the eye at formal gatherings in the form of bilum wear. Now one can turn up at their graduation looking stunning and feeling great in an outstanding bilum outfit. The outfit can include head-wear, armbands and scarves. Bilum wear is definitely setting a trend.Groups of young women at a number of formal gatherings in the Highlands have been attention grabbers with their bilum wear outfits.

(Grade 10 and 12 girls graduands at Yaweh Moses Secondary School in Chuave district Chimbu province in their bilum outfits, sitting is Senior Teacher Philip Launa Source: The National News -06)

The outfits are cost saving for parents and guardians who otherwise would have struggled to buy graduation gowns and outfits from shops. "I am very proud of my own child who graduated wearing a bilum outfit I produced with my own hands," said Martha Kon whose daughter graduated from the Goroka Secondary School last month. She said this added significance and meaning to all the years she had worked to find money to educate her daughter.Grade 10 and 12 girls that graduated from the Yaweh Moses secondary school in Chimbu province last week were a sight to behold in different coloured bilum outfits. The school’s senior teacher Philip Launa applauded the girls for promoting a new product. "Your bilum outfits makes this graduation very special, it creates an atmosphere of a new product on the market," he said. (Source: The National)


(Young lady in her bilum (string bag ) outfit)

The traditional skills and art of bilum making have developed as weavers adapted new styles and methods to produce these outfits. The creations obviously bring in more income for the weaver. At the moment there is no specific outlet producing bilum outfits on a large scale. However women groups in Eastern Highlands and Chimbu province will produce bilum outfits upon requests and orders from interested individuals and groups. The outfits are made according to the customers' needs.


On average it would take about K50 ($17) worth of wool to make an outfit. For groups there could be a standard cost not exceeding K200 ($75) but for an individual order the rate varies excluding the wool costs. One can negotiate with a weaver on style and price. Individuals and women’s groups who weave bilums are making the most of this new fashion trend which is booming in the Highlands and Momase regions. It’s an opportunity to increase earnings, enhance their skills and venture into a new marketing and business arena. According to the wearers bilum outfits are cool, flexible and comfortable. Bilum outfits currently available on the market are skirts, shirts, dresses, over coats and men’s trousers.



(Baskets made from bush vines/canes were on sale at Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP)

Lack of proper markets prevent women and men alike from selling their art and crafts. The pictures above depicts women and women selling their handiwork near the streets of Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP). Selling bilums on the streets is prevalent in most parts of Papua New Guinea as ninty-nine point nine percent (99.9%) of what is being produced via handiwork is sold on the streets.

The formerly German, British, and Australian-controlled territory officially recognized its flag on March 11, 1971, and flag usage was extended to ships at independence (Sept. 16, 1975). The colors red and black are shown extensively in local art and clothing. Featured emblems are a bird of paradise and the Southern Cross constellation. The above picture of a bilum depicts the true colors of Papua New Guinea.

*** So, come on! Over to Papua New Guinea and check it out :)

o

Living through Art and Craft - The Papua New Guinea Way

Papua New Guinea art and crafts designs are made locally by talented men and women who have no formal education. Most of these folks live in the villages in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea. Because there is lack of transportation, some of these men and women walk 2 - 3 days to sell their bags (bilums), crafts, and carvings. The number of craftsmen and women who spend time in using their talents is overwhelming but there are no proper markets. Some of them get lucky when they reach a nearby town or airport to sell their products but others aren’t so lucky. In a month or so, they make less than sixty kina ($20).
Below are some of the bags (bilums), hats, necklaces, and carvings most women and men in the remote parts of Papua New Guinea make to support their families as a form of income. Some of these pictures were taken at Kagamuga Airport in Mount Hagen, WHP by David Ketepa during his recent trip to Papua New Guinea.

One of the motives of writing this blog is also to expose the activities in the villages of Papua New Guinea to help the disfranchise and the underprivileged so that they can be part of the community through community-based activities. The activities involved in this regard doesn't happen in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea but rather throughout the country especially in the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea.

I have spent the last 27 years in Papua New Guinea and six years in the United States. Growing up in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea, I've seen people enduring the agony of trying to sell their produce as well as their art and craft handiwork at a proper market. Therefore, having this information on my blog might interest others around the world to help assist these womenfolk as well as to help them expose their hidden talents. Most of the work done by these women are for church, fellowship, and non-governmental organizations to enhance their community based activities

However, the most obvious hindrance in selling their produce and the art and craft work is a proper market niche and therefore this information is a mechanism for a possible an awareness campaign that indeed there are magnificent art and crafts throughout the corners of Papa New Guinea. All profits generated through the sale of all these art is used to sustain a family or put back to the rural communities in Papua New Guinea to boost their self-reliance projects.

Today bilums are custom-designed to be worn in any formal setting. Bilums will always be useful in these areas but they have over years changed their shapes, colors, designs and uses. Thanks to creative, innovative and talented weavers the bilum has broken out of the domestic domain now turning heads and catching the eye at formal gatherings in the form of bilum wear. Now one can turn up at their graduation looking stunning and feeling great in an outstanding bilum outfit. The outfit can include head-wear, armbands and scarves. Bilum wear is definitely setting a trend.Groups of young women at a number of formal gatherings in the Highlands have been attention grabbers with their bilum wear outfits.

(Grade 10 and 12 girls graduands at Yaweh Moses Secondary School in Chuave district Chimbu province in their bilum outfits, sitting is Senior Teacher Philip Launa Source: The National News -06)

The outfits are cost saving for parents and guardians who otherwise would have struggled to buy graduation gowns and outfits from shops. "I am very proud of my own child who graduated wearing a bilum outfit I produced with my own hands," said Martha Kon whose daughter graduated from the Goroka Secondary School last month. She said this added significance and meaning to all the years she had worked to find money to educate her daughter.Grade 10 and 12 girls that graduated from the Yaweh Moses secondary school in Chimbu province last week were a sight to behold in different coloured bilum outfits. The school’s senior teacher Philip Launa applauded the girls for promoting a new product. "Your bilum outfits makes this graduation very special, it creates an atmosphere of a new product on the market," he said. (Source: The National)


(Young lady in her bilum (string bag ) outfit)

The traditional skills and art of bilum making have developed as weavers adapted new styles and methods to produce these outfits. The creations obviously bring in more income for the weaver. At the moment there is no specific outlet producing bilum outfits on a large scale. However women groups in Eastern Highlands and Chimbu province will produce bilum outfits upon requests and orders from interested individuals and groups. The outfits are made according to the customers' needs.


On average it would take about K50 ($17) worth of wool to make an outfit. For groups there could be a standard cost not exceeding K200 ($75) but for an individual order the rate varies excluding the wool costs. One can negotiate with a weaver on style and price. Individuals and women’s groups who weave bilums are making the most of this new fashion trend which is booming in the Highlands and Momase regions. It’s an opportunity to increase earnings, enhance their skills and venture into a new marketing and business arena. According to the wearers bilum outfits are cool, flexible and comfortable. Bilum outfits currently available on the market are skirts, shirts, dresses, over coats and men’s trousers.



(Baskets made from bush vines/canes were on sale at Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP)

Lack of proper markets prevent women and men alike from selling their art and crafts. The pictures above depicts women and women selling their handiwork near the streets of Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP). Selling bilums on the streets is prevalent in most parts of Papua New Guinea as ninty-nine point nine percent (99.9%) of what is being produced via handiwork is sold on the streets.

The formerly German, British, and Australian-controlled territory officially recognized its flag on March 11, 1971, and flag usage was extended to ships at independence (Sept. 16, 1975). The colors red and black are shown extensively in local art and clothing. Featured emblems are a bird of paradise and the Southern Cross constellation. The above picture of a bilum depicts the true colors of Papua New Guinea.

*** So, come on! Over to Papua New Guinea and check it out :)

o

Living through Art and Craft - The Papua New Guinea Way

Papua New Guinea art and crafts designs are made locally by talented men and women who have no formal education. Most of these folks live in the villages in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea. Because there is lack of transportation, some of these men and women walk 2 - 3 days to sell their bags (bilums), crafts, and carvings. The number of craftsmen and women who spend time in using their talents is overwhelming but there are no proper markets. Some of them get lucky when they reach a nearby town or airport to sell their products but others aren’t so lucky. In a month or so, they make less than sixty kina ($20).
Below are some of the bags (bilums), hats, necklaces, and carvings most women and men in the remote parts of Papua New Guinea make to support their families as a form of income. Some of these pictures were taken at Kagamuga Airport in Mount Hagen, WHP by David Ketepa during his recent trip to Papua New Guinea.

One of the motives of writing this blog is also to expose the activities in the villages of Papua New Guinea to help the disfranchise and the underprivileged so that they can be part of the community through community-based activities. The activities involved in this regard doesn't happen in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea but rather throughout the country especially in the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea.

I have spent the last 27 years in Papua New Guinea and six years in the United States. Growing up in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea, I've seen people enduring the agony of trying to sell their produce as well as their art and craft handiwork at a proper market. Therefore, having this information on my blog might interest others around the world to help assist these womenfolk as well as to help them expose their hidden talents. Most of the work done by these women are for church, fellowship, and non-governmental organizations to enhance their community based activities

However, the most obvious hindrance in selling their produce and the art and craft work is a proper market niche and therefore this information is a mechanism for a possible an awareness campaign that indeed there are magnificent art and crafts throughout the corners of Papa New Guinea. All profits generated through the sale of all these art is used to sustain a family or put back to the rural communities in Papua New Guinea to boost their self-reliance projects.

Today bilums are custom-designed to be worn in any formal setting. Bilums will always be useful in these areas but they have over years changed their shapes, colors, designs and uses. Thanks to creative, innovative and talented weavers the bilum has broken out of the domestic domain now turning heads and catching the eye at formal gatherings in the form of bilum wear. Now one can turn up at their graduation looking stunning and feeling great in an outstanding bilum outfit. The outfit can include head-wear, armbands and scarves. Bilum wear is definitely setting a trend.Groups of young women at a number of formal gatherings in the Highlands have been attention grabbers with their bilum wear outfits.

(Grade 10 and 12 girls graduands at Yaweh Moses Secondary School in Chuave district Chimbu province in their bilum outfits, sitting is Senior Teacher Philip Launa Source: The National News -06)

The outfits are cost saving for parents and guardians who otherwise would have struggled to buy graduation gowns and outfits from shops. "I am very proud of my own child who graduated wearing a bilum outfit I produced with my own hands," said Martha Kon whose daughter graduated from the Goroka Secondary School last month. She said this added significance and meaning to all the years she had worked to find money to educate her daughter.Grade 10 and 12 girls that graduated from the Yaweh Moses secondary school in Chimbu province last week were a sight to behold in different coloured bilum outfits. The school’s senior teacher Philip Launa applauded the girls for promoting a new product. "Your bilum outfits makes this graduation very special, it creates an atmosphere of a new product on the market," he said. (Source: The National)


(Young lady in her bilum (string bag ) outfit)

The traditional skills and art of bilum making have developed as weavers adapted new styles and methods to produce these outfits. The creations obviously bring in more income for the weaver. At the moment there is no specific outlet producing bilum outfits on a large scale. However women groups in Eastern Highlands and Chimbu province will produce bilum outfits upon requests and orders from interested individuals and groups. The outfits are made according to the customers' needs.


On average it would take about K50 ($17) worth of wool to make an outfit. For groups there could be a standard cost not exceeding K200 ($75) but for an individual order the rate varies excluding the wool costs. One can negotiate with a weaver on style and price. Individuals and women’s groups who weave bilums are making the most of this new fashion trend which is booming in the Highlands and Momase regions. It’s an opportunity to increase earnings, enhance their skills and venture into a new marketing and business arena. According to the wearers bilum outfits are cool, flexible and comfortable. Bilum outfits currently available on the market are skirts, shirts, dresses, over coats and men’s trousers.



(Baskets made from bush vines/canes were on sale at Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP)

Lack of proper markets prevent women and men alike from selling their art and crafts. The pictures above depicts women and women selling their handiwork near the streets of Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP). Selling bilums on the streets is prevalent in most parts of Papua New Guinea as ninty-nine point nine percent (99.9%) of what is being produced via handiwork is sold on the streets.

The formerly German, British, and Australian-controlled territory officially recognized its flag on March 11, 1971, and flag usage was extended to ships at independence (Sept. 16, 1975). The colors red and black are shown extensively in local art and clothing. Featured emblems are a bird of paradise and the Southern Cross constellation. The above picture of a bilum depicts the true colors of Papua New Guinea.

*** So, come on! Over to Papua New Guinea and check it out :)

o