Among Equals
Among Equals was founded by textile designer, Caroline Sherman, in 2015 after she fell in love with the craft of Bilum bags, which were on display at an annual Pacific Trade and Invests show in Sydney. That exhibition, entitled 'Marketi Ples' showcased the beauty of the Pacific region's traditional weavings, and it was here that Caroline first met Florence Jaukae and Ruth Choulai, two amazing souls, each with incredible knowledge of the craft's cultural significance; it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
In 2015, Caroline made her first trip to Papua New Guinea to immerse in the weavers' world and view their annual Bilum Festival held in Goroka. During her travels, she met women from different regions and the idea for the Among Equals endeavour was cemented. Today, the brand works with communities across Papua New Guinea, including the Goroka, Mount Hagen, Telefomin and Madang regions, and is proud to count more than 600 weavers in its fold. Through its trade of Bilum, Among Equals is dedicated to improving the communities wellbeing, including funding and construction the Blue Haus, a safe shelter for the weavers to come together, learn and weave.
