Finding cultural treasures inside Suva’s handicraft haven

Located within Suva’s CBD area is the Suva Curio Handicraft Center which is a vibrant handicraft marketplace for Fijian made handicraft and carving products.

This Suva Curio Handicraft Center features various stalls where local artisans sell Fijian handicrafts and carvings such as woven mats, bags, earrings, necklace, tapa (Fijian cloth), iri (Fijian fans), wau (Fijian war clubs), lali (Fijian drums), and many more.

Local carvings using locally sourced wood are fumigated and treated therefore are safe to be exported.

It’s a popular place that tourists visit as the Suva Curio Handicraft Center is located near the Kings Wharf where visiting cruise ships berth in Suva, Fiji.

If you have just gotten off the cruise ship, the Suva Curio Handicraft Center is just a walking distance away.

Tourists can also negotiate the prices but at times vendors are a little reluctant to negotiate the prices, considering the time and effort it took to craft local products.

The Suva Curio Handicraft Center has over the years served the demand from companies, organisations and Government offices for locally produced handicrafts that are presented as gifts to visiting dignitaries or high level visitors.

Apart from that, locals also visit this center for items to be used in local functions such as weddings, funerals, birthdays, graduations and other events.

Items such as mats and tapa are some of the several materials that are mostly looked for during these functions because it portrays symbolic meanings to Fijian families.

Fijian made carved items at the Suva Curio Handicraft Center

Photo: Laiseana Nasiga

During graduation week, local and Pacific Island students from primary, high – school, to tertiary schools’ flock to this center to purchase ready-made garlands or salusalu.  

Whether you’re arriving by sea or exploring the city, the Suva Curio Handicraft Center is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Fiji’s rich artistic heritage.

Suva Curio Handicraft Center is open from Monday – Saturday (8am – 5pm).

Inside the Suva Curio Handicraft Center

Photo: Laiseana Nasiga