Paris Shopping Report: Bilum Bags

Please try to remember you are copying a significant cultural idea from another country, and the penultimate statement that you make "At this time, you can only NAB bilum bags in Paris" is a farce. Bilums are available anywhere in Papua New Guinea, and they are the genuine article...not some commercial tool for you guys. If you want a proper Bilum, I will send you one Gratis, so you can see how much personal effort goes into the creation of one.

Thanks,

Rick Brittain
(an expatriate working in PNG)
Cairns, Qld, Australia

I totally agree with Mr Rick Brittain. I am a Papua Niu Guinean, and I find it offensive that you are trying to steal this bilum idea from us. We have been making bilums of all types for a long time in the traditional way, and now you are making money from these plastic things. Please come to Papua Niu Guinea and buy real bilums from us if you want to sell them in Paris..or anywhere..these are the genuine bilums here.

Tenkyu tru, na lukim yu

Manu Isaac.

i dont understand the problem here, these are nothing like bilums, the name has simply been used. all these are are shoulder bags - which are not even woven... dont really understand the problem, im currently attempting to make a real bilum as a uni project an am finding it rather difficult so if any one from Papua New Guinee is reading this and could help with emailin me the techniques it would be very much appreciated!! x
-Sarah Barlow-
barlow_5arah@hotmail.com

Sarah,
My original concern was that the name "bilum" has basically been monopolized now, Internationally, and has been removed from it's PNG roots.
I actually met with Helene earlier this year, and found out that the company she operates is a predominently non-profit, recycling centre, using people with special needs to manufacture her bilums. Good luck to her, and I have no problem with that, and she is a genuine lady with genuine concerns for our planet.
I donated a couple of PNG bilums for her use, and she reciprocated with her bilums, which are certainly unique...but not genuine bilums as anyone who has spent time in PNG will tell you.
PNG stands for Papua New Guinea by the way..not Guinee. Some OZ universities obviously still have a lot to answer for.
Good luck with getting patterns/techniques for making your bilum...but it still won't be the genuine article. You cannot mimic culture...it's developed through centuries of trial and error.
Cheers,
Rick Brittain

OMG, NO WAY; not only do u guys wana steel our ideas, but u wana take the name with it!! Im from papua new guinea and i jus learnt how to make a bilum ( im quite young btw) and itz was soo difficult!!! I find it sooo wrong that u feel that u can just barge in like this and take our tradition for a light fashion accecsory which is in fact something with it's own SPECIFIC prupose. if ur going to take our idead at least tell the whole world about us and how u got ispired by our originality!!!!!! O yeh and giv us money too.hahaha
xoxoxox i hope u think about it ALOT

Hi I'm Johannah (12 years old) and I lived in Papua New Guinea for 3 and a half years, my Dad just went back and I'm at boarding school, and I know all to well about bilums.

These things that are supposedly bilums, are probably the biggest joke I've ever seen.Tthey don't at all look like bilums and they should have gotten their own name.

I'm currently doing an assignment on bilums and discovering this has really annoyed me.

I recently spent a month in Papua New Guinea (where my mother is from, her brother recently passed away hence the reason we were there), and Bilum is nothing like the kind you can "only find in Paris." Creating them is a skill of handiwork that is very difficult to achieve. Their patterns and the work that is applied to them is something not many people would be able to understand. Go to PNG and get a real Bilum from its country of origin. They are truly amazing pieces of art. These bags from Paris are not Bilums, but (as someone previously stated" just over the shoulder bags. Lovely, but not Bilums. Call them something else. And i've shared my piece. Cheers.

I am an Australian who grew up in Papua New Guinea and am now studying in France. I completely agree with the above posts. The bilum is unique and traditional to PNG and it is simply not appropriate to use the name for this new line of bags. Having made bilums myself I can testify to the time, skill, creativity and culture which is woven into them. Your project sounds worthwhile, but please choose another name!

I'm totally disgusted that the "BILUM" a unique and significant part of my Papua New Guinean cultural identity has been associated with a fashion accessory that has no forbearing to the original and authentic article. To patent a name that has a strong traditional and cultural importance to my country as a whole is an insult. Your lack of originality and sensitivity is a very tasteless! Do your research before you take credit for what is not rightfully yours!!

MelanesianDIVA