Traditional Hand Woven Bag From Papua New Guinea .
A Plastic or Shoulder Bag Replacement In The Form Of A Bilum.
Replacing your plastic bags with this delightful bilum is an easy solution to helping our planet. Help both the environment and women living in isolated communities by purchasing a bilum.
Woven and used by women in PNG, bilums are the traditional carry bag with multiple uses.
Traditionally used in cultural rituals or tribal exchange, bilums were also used as a carry bag for food, goods and even babies.
More recent uses also include use as a shoulder bag and fashion item or to replace plastic bags.
The firm weave allows these bags a great deal of flexibility and stretch. Use it as an alternative grocery bag, a beach bag or as a shoulder bag or handbag.
This bag has been handwoven and is a one off piece. No two of our bilums are the same, as each is made totally by hand in PNG using traditional methods.
We sell these on at no cost, as a way to support creative women living and working in isolated communities.
You can be absolutely sure these are authentic bags too, by the knots and bits of wool or even the odd variation in a knot or weave. These are not mass produced in a factory, but by women who hand weave in the traditional way.
A Traditional Hand Woven Bag From Papua New Guinea With Multiple Uses.
How about a fashion statement in the form of a traditional, hand woven bag from Papua New Guinea? This bilum or traditional string bag not only replaces plastic bags, but has multiple uses as well. In a range of rainbow colours, this bag be a grocery bag, beach bag, shoulder bag or any type of bag you desire.
You can easily store or fold away this delightfully versatile bag for use when you go grocery shopping or to the beach. An added bonus is it has multiple uses.
Take it with you in the car, folded in a handbag or simply wear it as a fashion accessory when the mood takes you.
We love using them as shoulder bags because they’re soft, they streeeeeetch so far and they’re comfortable to wear.
What is a Bilum?
Made by women in PNG, the bilum is a traditional, hand woven bag which incorporates a range of different weaves and patterns.
Woven using a twisting or looping technique, bilums have a range of functions, both traditionally and currently.
With spiritual or symbolic significance, the intricate and unique patterns of a bilum also record events, stories or provenance.
Made from natural fibers such as sisal, hemp, or pandanus leaves, bilums have more recently been made from wool.
Designed and made to have multiple uses, these string bags, as a result, make themselves a must have item.
Used traditionally, the bilum can:
Carry food and / or goods by slinging the woven handle over the head
Act as a carry bag or hammock for babies. Carried, like vegetables and goods, the baby is slung and hung from the head for easy transportation or hung under a shady tree to catch the breeze.
Form part of cultural rituals
Function in tribal exchanges
Used currently, the bilum can:
Act as a shoulder bag due to its long, woven handle.
Replace the handbag as a fashion accessory
Carry groceries in place of a plastic bag. You can easily roll or fold your bilum and keep it in your handbag.
Would you like to know more about us or our bilums?
Traditional Hand Woven Bag From Papua New Guinea
$55.00
Traditional Hand Woven Bag From Papua New Guinea .
A Plastic or Shoulder Bag Replacement In The Form Of A Bilum.
Replacing your plastic bags with this delightful bilum is an easy solution to helping our planet. Help both the environment and women living in isolated communities by purchasing a bilum.
Woven and used by women in PNG, bilums are the traditional carry bag with multiple uses.
Traditionally used in cultural rituals or tribal exchange, bilums were also used as a carry bag for food, goods and even babies.
More recent uses also include use as a shoulder bag and fashion item or to replace plastic bags.
The firm weave allows these bags a great deal of flexibility and stretch. Use it as an alternative grocery bag, a beach bag or as a shoulder bag or handbag.
This bag has been handwoven and is a one off piece. No two of our bilums are the same, as each is made totally by hand in PNG using traditional methods.
We sell these on at no cost, as a way to support creative women living and working in isolated communities.
You can be absolutely sure these are authentic bags too, by the knots and bits of wool or even the odd variation in a knot or weave. These are not mass produced in a factory, but by women who hand weave in the traditional way.
1 in stock
Description
A Traditional Hand Woven Bag From Papua New Guinea With Multiple Uses.
How about a fashion statement in the form of a traditional, hand woven bag from Papua New Guinea? This bilum or traditional string bag not only replaces plastic bags, but has multiple uses as well. In a range of rainbow colours, this bag be a grocery bag, beach bag, shoulder bag or any type of bag you desire.
You can easily store or fold away this delightfully versatile bag for use when you go grocery shopping or to the beach. An added bonus is it has multiple uses.
Take it with you in the car, folded in a handbag or simply wear it as a fashion accessory when the mood takes you.
We love using them as shoulder bags because they’re soft, they streeeeeetch so far and they’re comfortable to wear.
What is a Bilum?
Made by women in PNG, the bilum is a traditional, hand woven bag which incorporates a range of different weaves and patterns.
Woven using a twisting or looping technique, bilums have a range of functions, both traditionally and currently.
With spiritual or symbolic significance, the intricate and unique patterns of a bilum also record events, stories or provenance.
Made from natural fibers such as sisal, hemp, or pandanus leaves, bilums have more recently been made from wool.
Designed and made to have multiple uses, these string bags, as a result, make themselves a must have item.
Used traditionally, the bilum can:
Used currently, the bilum can:
Would you like to know more about us or our bilums?
Drop us a line with your question.
Details of Bilum
Height of bag: 31.5 cm [ approx. 12 1/2 inches]
Width of bag: 53.5 cm [ approx. 21 inches]
Strap length from centre of bag to knot: 21.5cm [ approx 8 1/2 inches]
Materials: Cotton / wool
Care
Please spot wash and lay flat to dry.
Additional information
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