Fabric Artist Angie Contributes To Women’s Empowerment, 85% Women’s Earning

A fabric artist, Angie Rakai Niumatai­walu, has become an inspiration for women as she empowers many of them through her fabric art workshop.

Ms Niumataiwalu, who celebrated her 30th anni­versary of being a fabric art specialist, said she felt proud when she identified women who used such skills to earn a living for their families.

She said 85 per cent of over 1000 participants who were taught during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic till now had set up their own small businesses in their villages and communities.

Participants send merchandise overseas

Ms Niumataiwalu said from her understanding and follow-up with her par­ticipants, a good number of participants had used their fabric art training to start businesses and were export­ing their items to Fijian communities overseas.

“It feels great when partic­ipants thank me for chang­ing their lives and teaching them employable skills,” she said.

Her own business is based in Sydney, Australia, where her husband currently re­sides as she has to regularly travel back and forth to ac­commodate her busy sched­ule.

“I know some participants have also produced fabric art materials for their per­sonal usage and saved mon­ey on previous purchases of home decoration materi­als,” she said.

Teaching

To commemorate her an­niversary, she is offering a 30 per cent discount on all workshops from August 15 to September 15 for all par­ticipants who wished to reg­ister.

The fee for the three-day workshop on fabric training is $108.50.

The 58-year-old has con­ducted similar workshops overseas in New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and other South East Asian countries.

“With the fabric art tech­niques these participants now possess, they only pur­chased materials and pro­duced their own curtains, cushion covers, table run­ners, and things for their family,” she said.

Holding workshops was not an easy feat as she had to properly arrange each workshop to meet the satis­faction of their customs.

Screen printing, tie dire Asian techniques like sumi­nagashi and shibori and her own personal blotching technique were taught dur­ing the workshops.

Renowned local and international fabric artist, Angie Rakai Niumataiwalu, shows one of her printed work during an earlier workshop

They also painted sulus and dress materials and sold them to friends and family for their business.

This assessment was pos­sible through her regular feedback and monitoring visits and checks.

She conducted her third round of workshops around various districts in Fiji, in­cluding Suva, Nausori, the Western regions, Savusavu and Labasa.

Ms Niumataiwalu said the community along with busi­ness and hotel stakeholders helped arrange a number of workshops in their areas.

To continue her work dur­ing the height of the pan­demic, she was assisted by Daku Resort owner to cater for residents of Savusavu.

She said when people were laid off during the COVID-crisis, the demand for fabric workshops increased.

“My first workshop was held in Suva in 2020, and ever since then, my business and passion thrived”.

Challengers

The mother-of-two believed in any business and working environment; while there are competitors, it is no different in her fabric lifestyle.

Ms Niumataiwalu said sourcing materials from overseas was a massive challenge as the price deferred from Fiji, and believed paints and other raw materials were more affordable.

She stayed in Thailand for 13 years and 18 years in New Zealand before being based in Australia.

“In Thailand, life was difficult and I worked as a merchandiser for a company, and the language barrier was a challenge, however, I adjusted myself to ensure my passion did not die out in fabric art,” she said.

A participant Josephine McComber from Labasa said the training had inspired her to be independent and this led to her starting her business.

“Times are hard and when I registered for the workshop, I had made my mind to come out with an income earning skill,” she said.

Tye and Dye workshop

Ms Niumataiwalu said the focal point of her engagement in each workshop starts on the last day of the workshop.

The passionate entrepreneur and women’s advocate said participants undergo a basic introduction to all the different paints and dyes that would be used in the training.

After which, the application process is taught on how to mix and blend the colours.

“The type of materials to use and the very important practice of being a fabric artist is to fully understand the before and after care of the finished printed material.”

She also assists her participants by helping them with the quality control for those who had started to export overseas.

“I am 24/7 active on Facebook to guide more fellow trainees and sending them tips to prosper and ensure their business remained viable,” she said.

Current plans

Ms Naimatawalu plans to engage women in Savusavu who had attended her previous training to help them prepare their products such as sulus, printed dresses, and other household decorations.

“As soon the cruise ship arrives in Savusavu, our women trainees would be ready to supply and showcase their products to foreigners.”

Feedback: sampras.anand@fijisun.com.fj