WEAVING skills handed down from generation to generation have brought fame and some fortune to the women of Vaturova, Cakaudrove.
From sourcing wild vines, to preparing them and intricately weaving them from nondescript raw material into baskets and other products that are used for a range of different purposes, skills of the past are giving the women a source of income today and into the future.
Young women from Nayarabale, Nabaleyaniga, Seavaci and Nayagalevu are weaving products that are sought after in the local and international markets.
They are using every given opportunity to showcase their wares — at provincial, national to regional events.
They even use these platforms to tell their story, adding marketing value to the products they sell.
Nabaleyaniga villager Ilisapeci Waituiloaloa said weaving has been a part of her life from as far back as she can remember.
As a youngster growing up in the village, she said the older women of Nabaleyaniga used to organise special weaving days.
“It’s a traditional skill that has been passed down from our great-grandmothers and mothers and we continue to make the baskets and other things the same way today,” she said.
“Most of us were taught while we were still in school.
“Some girls learnt the skills while in primary school because they would sit with their mothers while they weaved.”
She said learning the craft was not easy.
“In the first few months of learning it’s really difficult because the vines are not easy to source or prepare.
“Even today, we have to walk for five hours into the forest to collect vines.
“During our great-grandmothers and grandmothers’ time, the vines were near the village and there was a lot of it.
“Now, we have to walk far into the forest to get the vines and most times we have to take our husbands or sons so they can climb the trees to cut them.
“It’s not an easy job. When we arrive in the village, we clean the vines and sun it out so it hardens.
“It has to reach a certain state of hardness before we can begin making the baskets.”
She says the effort put into weaving the baskets is worth it because it has financially supported many women and their families.
“We make laundry baskets from it, trays, eating utensil holders, placemats, baskets for shopping and church and many other things.
“Every year during the women’s expo, we are always invited to attend to showcase our baskets and most times we return home with good money after selling our stuff.
“We have managed to put our children through school from the basket money.”
Ms Waituiloaloa said women from her village had also been blessed with orders from family and friends living abroad.
“Sometimes, our customers, mainly family and friends living abroad, order a certain type of basket or tray for special events.
“And this really challenges us.
“In doing this, we also learn to make different patterns compared to what our mothers and grandmothers used to weave.
“So it provides us an opportunity to learn more and do better to suit the demand and fashion trends of this world.”
