Injalak Ladies – Fish Traps 40 cm

• Fabric: hand printed cotton drill (front) and unprinted cotton (back)
• Color: the base cloth is sand and the ink is grey. The back of the cushion is black.
• Closure by invisible zipper
• Fabric design story supplied with each cushion

Purchasing items made from hand-printed fabric supports Aboriginal artists (who get a royalty) and also creates a livelihood for the printers and sewers.
Please note that each cushion is unique and the placement of the design is different and wonderful on each item.

The fabric was made into cushion covers by Mrs Pichreay our fair trade partner in Cambodia.
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The designers: Priscilla Badari, Sylvia Badari, Lynne Nadjowh

The design story: Mandjabu (Fish Traps) were traditionally used throughout Western Arnhem Land to catch djenj (generic Kunwinjku word for fish). The large woven nets are made from strong vines, ere anchored in the river bed and used to trap fish with the changing tides. These traps were very large and could stretch metres in length. Traditionally men would weave these nets due to the size and heavy duty nature of the structure. It was on uncommon for two to three men to spend close to a month weaving large fish traps.
The design features artistic interpretations of the different stitches used to weave these large traps. Although these traps are no long regularly used for fishing, women still practice making them to continue the old traditions and maintain ancient weaving techniques. Examples can be found in museums often recreated from pandanus and sandl palm. *

Injalak Arts is a non-profit, fully Aboriginal owned arts corporation located Gunbalanya in West Arnhem Land in remote Australia. The 300 members make beautiful arts and crafts. Their print workshop is busy with new screenprinted fabrics being created daily. They have an extraordinary 47 different fabric designs all created by the members and use lots of different base cloths (all natural fibres) and two teams of printers – men and women. Injalak Arts is registered as a charity in Australia.
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Visit the Injalak Arts Etsy shop to see an amazing range of fabrics and other high quality authentic hand-made products: https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/InjalakArts