AMONG EQUALS LAUNCHES DEBUT COLLABORATION WITH DESIGNER SARAH-JANE CLARKE (AM)
NOVEMBER 2025, Sydney, Australia – Caroline Sherman, founder of social enterprise brand Among Equals, is delighted to announce a debut collaboration with designer Sarah-Jane Clarke (AM). The limited-edition line of 60 Mamari Bilum bags was created in partnership with the Wewak weavers, an artisan collective based along Papua New Guinea’s Sepik River, led by longtime collaborator and cultural advisor, Lina Singu, and her son Edward.
This beautifully crafted collection is handwoven in nylon, in shades of rich plum and forest green, themed around a traditional circular Bilum shape. The Mamari bags feature a natural sisal base together with grass flower adornments finished with freshwater pearls. The craft is symbolic of the weavers’ cultural traditions and exceptional skills, passed down generations – and it’s an artform that is particularly meaningful to Caroline Sherman.
Sherman is a textile designer and philanthropist. In 2015, she travelled to Goroka to meet communities of weavers in Papua New Guinea, which marked a turning point. Inspired by their intricate patterns and striking palettes, she partnered with community elders to build a not-for-profit around the idea of independence and change. Among them was Lina Singu, who has worked with Among Equals since its inception as both a cultural advisor and connector to women living along the Sepik River.
Today, Among Equals counts more than 3,500 women in its circle across eight provinces in Papua New Guinea. Sherman’s dedication to the cause has helped generate life-transforming revenue for the women and their families – in 2017, she funded and built the Among Equals Blue Haus, a safe space where the Goroka women can come together to receive care and training.
Now, with the Among Equals x Sarah-Jane Clarke collaboration, the mission expands further. Clarke will donate proceeds from the sale of the Mamari Bilum bags to fund the creation of a new Blue Haus for the Wewak weavers, supporting the next chapter of independence for these women and their families.
“Sarah-Jane’s dedication to purposeful design perfectly aligns with the spirit of Among Equals,” says Sherman. “This collaboration is a celebration of community, creativity and connection across cultures, and we are so excited by the possibilities.”
Having co-founded the sass & bide brand, Clarke has since turned her focus to an eponymous resortwear line defined by elegance, vitality and mindfulness. Her partnership with Among Equals marks a meaningful fusion of conscious fashion and sustainability.
The Among Equals X Sarah-Jane Clarke Mamari Bilum collaboration will be available in store and online from November 2025.
