Papua New Guinea (PNG) business owner Anette Sete started her own clothing business 10 years ago because there were not enough authentic PNG designs on fabric.
“What we get is what the Chinese shop gives us,” Sete says.
She wanted to create products that better represented her people and culture, so Maku gifts were born.
Anette began with small items such as earrings, key tags and tea towels for tourists to take with them as a souvenir from PNG.
“The domestic demand is huge. People are just waking up to buying local, buying PNG made those things that tell our story we basically grew from that idea.”
Now they have six shops in different locations across PNG and she employs around 70 families who help make the products.
“We buy coconut shells from the local people, seashells from local people and we make them and sell them” she added.
Anette works closely with suppliers to make sure the quality of the products are of a high standard and in line with quarantine regulations.
The most popular item at the store are the Papua fabrics. Local customers even pre-order their purchase.
“They want to wear it. They are proud to wear something that they can identify with.”
