DIGITAL FAGOGO - PLAITING A PACIFIC SHELL BRACELET

"If you didn't know how to plait fibre you couldnt make fishing nets, baskets or adornments in Rotuma - its an essential part of our art of living" - Sofia Tekela Smith.

Rotuman artist Sofia Tekela-Smith shares the stories and history of her homeland as she breaks down the importance of plaiting and braiding in her culture.

In this video she breaks down how to do an 8 plait weave to make a simple and beautiful shell bracelet.

Learn how to constuct this shell bracelet here and also how you can apply the 8 plait weaving skills to many different adornments and forms.

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Digital Fāgogo is a Pacific storytelling series, looking at the ancient arts of the Moana which are brought to life through the skills of 8 different creators of Pasifika taonga. 

From the tuiga of Samoa, to plaiting skills from Rotuma, the tikanga of lei making in Hawaii and the weaving of the Cook Islands - this series aims to connect young Pacific Islanders with their heritage arts and culture.