Kete is the Māori word for basket, kit or bag. I have made all of these fashion statements.
In our early history, harakeke was traded to be used for ropes for sailing ships, among other things, so a woven item will last you well. Patterns are woven into designs to tell stories and represent different realms and messages.
 |
| This is the colour harakeke goes once processed and woven if no dye is used. Fibre from harakeke is called muka and here is plaited or braided into handles |
 |
| This is a man's satchel woven with natural and dyed harakeke |
 |
| This lady's handbag is made with harakeke in the kupenga or fishing net technique. It is dyed red and lined with black fabric to look good and keep your things safe |
These kete I wove from pīngao, New Zealand native golden sand sedge.
