Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition & Forum

Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition & Forum

Women in East Timor produce hand-woven textiles that are an important part of their culture, especially in the wake of prolonged and destructive conflict. The small craft industry is primarily composed of poor rural women, including many widows, who represent a vulnerable part of society. Selling their craft products is, for many of these women and their families, a source of income which pays for essential items and assists in the development of sustainable livelihoods.

However, new research has found that, like handcraft producers all over the world, they face great challenges in marketing their goods and maintaining the culture of their products and practices, while getting a fair price for their work. A coordinated and dedicated craft development program in East Timor based on the current economic realities of production and trade, the different social situations of women producers and on the potential for their empowerment could help reduce these challenges.

To support these women, IWDA will be involved in the Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition, Forum and Market, to be held at St Kilda Town Hall and Gallery:

HANDWOVEN TEXTILES OF EAST TIMOR
Exhibition Launch Friday 5 Sept 2008 6.00pm
Forum ($20/$12) & Market Saturday 6 Sept 10.00am til 5.00pm

Exhibition at the new St Kilda Town Hall and Gallery
99A Carlisle St, St. Kilda (Trams 3, 16, 67 or Train to Balaclava Station)

Events RSVP to assist@portphillip.vic.gov.au or 03 9209 6777
For more information go to www.friendsofsuai.org.au

Women weavers in the new nation of East Timor have a long and cherished tradition of producing textiles called Tais (tie-ss). They are used for cultural and ritual exchange, worn as costume, and in recent times offered for sale.

One of the newest nations in the world, East Timor is also one of the poorest. International and local aid organisations have sought ways of assisting its development, such as helping handcrafts producers develop their craft into a livelihood. Women in East Timor live in a difficult environment of a society struggling with the after effects of violence and war.

Female-headed families are common and these families are often poorer and more vulnerable. Despite these difficult conditions they have built a small but strong movement for women’s rights, which among other things, supports and assists craft producers. For many village women, particularly older women and widows, there are few other ways to make cash, meaning that school fees, medicine and travel are beyond the reach of many.

Timor-Leste Textiles Exhibition & Forum Flyer PDF

This entry was posted on Friday, August 15th, 2008 under Recent.