Deep in the rural Betong division of Sarawak, in a longhouse nestled amidst pepper plantations, a group of Iban women artisans ply their craft. Here, they consciously preserve, revive and often reinvent the timeless art of weaving in a bid to enhance their livelihoods.

IBAN TABLE MATS

Once unusable fan covers, the transformation into these versatile trays is brilliant. Challenging traditional weaving skills, this painstaking process takes up to 50 hours or more from splitting and processing the material to weaving this finished piece. Your support towards this project is a true gesture of appreciation for Sarawak’s fine crafts and a contribution towards sustainability and improving the livelihoods of our rural communities.

THE MAGIC OF UPCYCLING

Traditionally used by farmers during rice and pepper harvesting, these finely double weave baskets in various Iban motifs takes days to weave by hand using jungle fibre harvested from the neighbouring forests.

Only the more accomplished senior weavers work on these baskets, so meticulous is the production process that not many even notice the double layers.

THE PADI BASKET

This table mat is a fine example of using traditional mat-weaving techniques but in a modern, practical material more relevant to life today.

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Deep in the rural Betong division of Sarawak, in a longhouse nestled amidst pepper plantations, a group of Iban women artisans ply their craft. Here, they consciously preserve, revive and often reinvent the timeless art of weaving in a bid to enhance their livelihoods.

COILLED RATTAN TABLE MATS

This floor mat is a fine example of using traditional mat-weaving techniques but in a modern, practical material more relevant to life today.

Deep in the rural Betong divisons of Sarawak,in a longhouse nestled amidst pepper plantations, a group of Iban women artisans ply their craft. Here, they consciously preserve ,revive and often reinvent the timeless art of weaving in a bid to enhance their livelihoods.

IBAN TIKAR

A state treasure, Abot Gudang is a local Bidayuh artist who has mastered illustrating on non-conventional canvasses.  He works mostly with natural, organic materials and often features his distinctive Orang Ulu motifs on seeds, leaves and pieces of driftwood giving nature a subtle Sarawakian touch. Abot has painted components for the seed jewellery, wooden spoons and pepper bottles sold exclusively at the two gift shops.

ABOT'S KITCHEN