How to Style a Bilum Bag for Any Occasion

If you’ve never heard of a bilum bag, you’re not alone. These gorgeous bags originated in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and every one of them is an original. The women in this part of the world use natural fibres and natural dyes to make these string-like bags, but they are a lot stronger than they look. In fact, when you consider that bilum bags are made by hand, it’s amazing to learn that they are also extremely strong. So strong, in fact, that they have been used to carry firewood, personal belongings, food and drink, and even babies. They have also been used to adorn the body during certain rituals and other traditions.

The Advantages of Bilum Bags

A bilum bag is strong but stretchy, and it lasts a very long time because of the strong fibres used to make it. The bags tend to be brightly coloured and come in a wide selection of beautiful designs, and since no two bags are exactly alike, you can use yours with confidence knowing that there is no other person on the planet who has that particular design. The women in New Guinea who make them make all of them by hand, and the patterns they use have been handed down from generation to generation.

In fact, in New Guinea each family has its own way of making the bags, and the patterns they follow have cultural and even emotional significance. These are indeed purses that give each family a sense of uniqueness and pride, and nowadays the same families are using the technique they use to make the purses to make other items as well, including hats and dresses. If you travel to New Guinea, you’ll notice lots of women selling these items throughout the area, providing you with tons of great items to choose from every time.

How to Wear Bilum Bags

Bilum bags are so unique and versatile that you can wear them almost anywhere. If you’re going to the beach, you can load the bag up with sunscreen, sunglasses, a beach towel, and your car keys and head on out. If you’re going shopping, just put your wallet, keys, and other items in the bag just like you would any other purse. If you’re out in public and your baby is getting heavy, put your baby in the bag and carry your baby that way. Regardless of where you’re going and what you plan to do once you get there, it’s super easy to bring your bilum bag with you and carry the items you think you’ll need along the way.

Another advantage of these purses is the number of patterns and colour themes that are available. You can use your bilum bag whether you’re going to a casual function or a more formal function, or anything in between. Let’s face it, because these are homemade bags, they come in such a wide selection of designs that you’ll always be able to find one that you can use for various functions. The bags are stylish regardless of where you’re going, and because they are so versatile and strong, they can hold just about anything you put in them.

Conclusion

A bilum bag is a great addition to your wardrobe and comes in hundreds of designs, especially since each bag is an original. You can bring them just about anywhere, and because of the strong fibres they are made out of, they will last for many years to come. Although most of them are made in New Guinea, you can now find them online as well, which means you can start your own collection of bilum bags anytime you’re ready.