Sepik Bilum 1679

This one-of-a-kind Sepik Bilum by not-for-profit brand Among Equals was lovingly woven by artisan weaver Lina Singu - a successful hilum weaver and matriarch to her clan. She is from the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea.

Bilum from the Sepik are distinct in their weave and style; fibre is sourced from surrounding vegetation including the Sisal and Pandanus plants, laboriously beaten, twisted into string and then woven. Weavers expertly utilise natural dyes made from plants, ochres and berries to enhance their patterns.

This bag has a small size body and long strap length.

Each pattern weaves a story of the life of the artisan.

Product Info

Dimensions:
39cm wide
28cm high
121cm strap

Embellishments:
Hand-made pom and tassel
Made from raffia and wool

Meet the Weaver:

Artisan weaver Lina Singu is a successful hilum weaver and matriarch to her clan. She is from the Sepik River and has one son who has completed his university in engineering. From the income she earns from bilum, Lina has bought land and built a house with electricity. She is a highly creative weaver and wants to open an arts and crafts shop.

Care:
Each piece is completely unique and has been created using natural materials. Exposure to harsh sunlight and water may cause damage.

To clean the bag; hang in direct sunlight for a couple of hours and then shake out.

Shipping + Returns

Orders are dispatched within 1-3 working days.

We are committed to keeping our delivery costs fair, low and fully transparent.

Free Std Shipping on Orders Over $150*

In order to keep your costs down and our pricing simple, delivery is FREE for ALL NASH + BANKS customers within Australia if you spend $150 or more on full-priced items in one transaction*.

This does not include BULKY ITEMS. You'll either be charged shipping on bulky items at the checkout or we will contact you separately with a freight quote. Please see individual product pages to see if an item is considered BULKY.

*Free shipping does not apply to international orders.

Please refer to our shipping policy for more detail and international shipping rates.

For information about returns, please check our returns policy.

About The Brand

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. 

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' well-being, including funding and construction of Blue Haus, a safe shelter for the weavers to come together, learn and weave.