BY MIKE PUIA
BROWSING through stalls that were setup at the Kingdom Harvest Ministry Compound in East Honiara over the weekend, a stall caught my attention.
This stall was manned by three beautiful local women. It displays a range of colorful products that are so attractive to the eyes.
Anyone who walk pass the stall would definitely make a turn and inspect the products on the front table or ask one of the ladies about the products displayed on the wall.
The eye-catchy products are hand-made flower hairpins displayed on the front table. A $10-price pops out from these flowers.
These flowers were made using nylon materials cut out from net-like tights, wire and floral tapes.
The nylon materials in different colors are turned into petals. Marion Teube, from Malaita province, handmade these flower hairpins. Beside the flowers are bungles, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings Marion also hand-made.
On the wall of the tiny stall were dyed T-shirts Marion also designed Marion learned the skill of producing these adorable products from a close friend in 2012.
She went into hair-pin production and eventually into T-shirt dying. Marion collected T-shirt from second-hand shops and turned them into imported-like cloths.
She stretched out her creative zone to produce necklace and hairpin flowers. Marion rarely goes out and sold her products in the public. But, at times she would display her products at the National Arts Gallery at Point Cruz. During the Mere’s market, she would come out in full with her products.
The Mere’s Market is held once in every two months and is organized by Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA). Marion ventured into this trade four years.
Her friends and neighbors know about her talents. They are the ones who usually buy or lead interested customers to Marion’s home.
“I produce these things back home. My friends and neighbors are my main customers,” Marion said.
She said she is now passing the skills to other women they attend same church together.
Recently, Marion said she had noticed an increased interest and great demand for her products by customers.
She said she also hopes to get her products sold in other parts of the country. At the moment, Marion is looking at engaging an agent to sell her products in Auki, her provincial center.
She said what she produced not only serves the growing demand and interests of women and girls but serves as a bread winner for her family to support her four children.
Marion said many women tend to rely on their husbands to provide income for the family.
“Married women should not rely on their husbands to find income for the family. There are many things women can to do to earn income,” Marion said.
She said women should venture into something new that would generate income instead of focusing on one common business like betelnut selling.
Marion said soon she will start producing hair-pin using plastic.
She said plastics not only made wonderful flowers but using them is one way of recycling plastics that would filth the street.
