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Weaving cultural ties

10 September 2008

Young Suai weaver. Photo courtesy Friends of Suai.

Taryn Lane, East Timor Women's Association, Dr Sara Niner, and Coordinator Friends of Suai Pat Jessen. Photo courtesy City of Port Philip.

Dr Sara Niner, a postdoctoral research fellow from the Faculty of Arts, has told a public forum of the challenges faced by traditional weavers in Timor-Leste (East Timor).

The forum was held last week at the St Kilda Town Hall as part of a major exhibition that includes more than 40 hand-woven textiles, or tais, from the region.

Dr Niner said the hand-woven textiles produced by East Timorese women were a vital part of their culture, especially after decades of destructive conflict.

"It's mostly poor rural women, including many widows, who make up the bulk of the weavers. Selling tais is the only way many of these women can make money to pay for essential items," Dr Niner said.

It is estimated that East Timorese women produce 30,000 textile pieces a year with a value of around US$600,000.

"While women are eager and capable entrepreneurs, they have few marketing skills, and are often held back by lack of money to set up a business," Dr Niner said.

"Another challenge is the fact that the currency in East Timor is in US dollars, which means local prices are higher compared to neighbouring West Indonesia.

"Yet for many village women there are few other ways to make money.

"What would help is a coordinated and dedicated craft development program in East Timor based on the current economic realities of production and trade and the different social situations of women weavers."

The textiles exhibition is on display at the St Kilda Town Hall, corner of Brighton Road and Carlisle Street, St Kilda until Tuesday 30 September.