We were so thrilled to present our latest Bilum collection recently in London at Alex Eagle Studio. What a heavenly event! It was all the more exciting to be joined by Florence Jaukae Kamel, our wonderful brand ambassador and aggregator, who is based in Papua New Guinea. 
Together we showcased some of the most exquisite Bilum bags to key media and buyers, including editors from British Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The British Fashion Council, The Financial Times, The World Of Interiors, Collagerie and Drest. It was such a joy to celebrate the weavers’ work together with Flo, who is the most engaging storyteller. She captivated our London audience with stories of the women and the meaning behind their beautiful patterns and colours, and everyone responded with such joy, warmth and enthusiasm. “Once you wear our Bilum, you are family”, Flo explained, and certainly the message had feeling.
When Flo and I first started working together in 2015, we collaborated with 20 weavers. Today, we count more than 2,000 women in our community – weavers who live in some of the most remote and hard-to-reach regions in PNG, and I’m honoured to have been invited in by them. These weavers are very much the heart and soul of the brand – cultural and economic empowerment is central to this women’s led community – and so we are always grateful to introduce the weavers’ tradition and craft to a new audience, so excited by what we have achieved but even more excited by what is to come.
Special thanks to:
Florence Jaukae Kamel
Gene Sherman
Sherman Centre For Cultural Ideas
Alex Eagle
Bianca Fincham, Fincham Communications
Jodie Stewart, Pacific Trade Invest
Florals by Rachael Barker
Photos by Hugo Cheung
