Bilum Feather and Wool Weave Extra Large

Used to carry a baby or groceries. This bilum is wild feathers woven with acrylic wool, the ends have a repurposed fine scarf which gives it a whimsical feel, this bilum is extremely unique.

Size: Extra Large - very hard to measure the weave is designed to expand twice the size or more as you fill them. Roughly 2 meters from before the scarf to the other scarf. Tie knot to adjust how much length you would like.

Colours: Feathers natural, black, sky blue, dark blue, white, forest green, red, brown.

In the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, particularly around Goroka, bilum weaving is more than a craft—it is a generational practice deeply embedded in women’s lives, passed from mother to daughter over centuries. Women gather in communal spaces, often weaving while sharing stories, raising children, and supporting one another. Traditionally using natural fibres made from the bark of local trees such as the tulip tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus), these women twist and loop each thread by hand, embedding personal and cultural narratives into every bag.

For many, especially single mothers and women with limited education, bilum weaving is the primary source of income and a pathway to economic independence. Visionary leaders like Florence Jaukae Kamel, known as the "Bilum Meri," have transformed this ancestral art into a platform for empowerment, founding cooperatives, training weavers, and advocating for women's rights. Under her leadership, bilum designs have been showcased on international runways and used in advocacy campaigns to highlight gender-based violence and reproductive health. 

Each bilum not only tells a story through its patterns—signifying life stages, resilience, and social identity—but also represents the strength and creativity of the women who make them, binding tradition, survival, and self-expression into a single woven thread.