Rako Pasefika
Rako Pasefika Crafter Profile
Rako is an artistic movement based in Fiji, a collective who produce beautiful Polynesian and Fijian products.
It was formed by a group of Rotuman and Polynesian artists as part of their quest to gain more insight, depth and knowledge of their heritage but with a focus on creative freedom…to recapture and revive ancient art forms and stories, but with the freedom to create new work without boundaries.
RakoDesigns, like all other branches of Rako Pasefika, developed naturally through years of costume making and designing for the Rako Pasefika performers.
This organic process evolved over the years from simple headbands, skirts and tops to a full range of men’s and women’s wear.
The prints on all RakoDesigns wear are unique, and are a representation of the many cultures and stories that make up Rako Pasefika.
These designs, most of which are designed by Letila Mitchell – the Director of RakoDesigns, were originally transferred to print by Laudan Kotoitubou who has ancestral links to the people of the Moce Islands – master Masi Printers in Fiji.
This skill and knowledge was passed onto Laudan, which she now uses with RakoDesigns.
Although the focus of RakoDesigns is to produce high-end pacific designs that are wearable to work, church, dinners, formal events etc, their priority is still creating a sustainable living in the arts as well as the preservation of culture and traditional knowledge through practice and sharing.
Rako is symbolic of the organic process of creative learning - listening, experiencing, collaboration, exchange and expressing this knowledge through movement, spoken word, imagery and music.
myFijiStore is happy to bring you a range of hand-made jewellery using materials native to Fiji, such as Mother of Pearl, Coconut shell and Vau.
Vau is the dried and shredded bark of the Hibiscus tree, and features in some of the necklaces and earrings in the Rako Pasefika jewellery range. Nature’s gifts finely crafted to bring unique and elegant jewellery.
Each piece of jewellery is enclosed in a masi gift bag, keeping your treasures safe and showcasing these beautiful masi pouches.
Products from Supplier
Mother of Pearl five drop earringsThese elegant earrings are made from Fiji Mother of Pearl shell, with waxed thread weaving the five shells together, finished with sterling silver hoops. The earrings are nestled in a hand-made masi pouch, made out of the inner bark of the paper Mulberry tree.
Masi is a famous Fijian cloth that is beautiful and natural, and complements the MOP shells. A beautiful Fijian treasure, Mother of Pearl earrings coupled with a Masi pouch, ideal as a gift.
Rako have carefully designed each piece so that the natural Fijian materials used have no customs restrictions. Each piece of Mother of Pearl shell has been carefully processed - this means it has been sanded, oiled and polished.
The only materials that have customs restrictions are feathers, Clam Shell, Red Vaivai seeds and any other seeds. That's why none of the Rako jewellery range contains these items. These are truly special, hand-made pieces that are unique to Fiji and Rako's Rotuman roots.
Fiji Coconut button necklaceElegant natural necklace made out of Fijian Coconut shell
This elegant necklace is hand-made by Rako Pasefika out of Fijian coconut shell sourced from the island of Rotuma. Using naturally abundant Coconuts, each mini-button is individually shaped out of coconut shell to just the right size, before being drilled to create the perfect incision. The coconut buttons are strung together using cotton fiber chord which is hand-woven.
Each of the 30 buttons is just over 1cm in diameter, with each piece being woven together to form the intricate design. There are three rows of coconuts with 5cm of chord either side before the coconut section starts. This is a delicate piece which sits close to the neck, similar to a choker necklace.
Customs-friendly jewellery
Rako Pasefika have carefully designed their stunning pieces to ensure that the natural materials used have no customs restrictions. Each Coconut shell has been carefully sanded, oiled and polished, meaning it has been processed and poses no customs threat.
Mother of Pearl Crescent necklaceThis piece is also made out of Mother of Pearl shell and Vau. The mother of pearl like all others used in Rako's jewellery is grinded, sand papered and shined to show its amazing color. It is than cut and shaped to give a hook like appearance. The Vau is in its original color after it has been soaked, dried and shredded to give it that light brown color.
Mother of Pearl and Vau necklaceThis piece is made out of mother of pearl, vau and cotton chord. The vau is made from the bark of a tree which is shredded then soaked in sea water for 2-3 weeks before it is finely shredded and put in the sun to dry. After drying, the vau is soaked in red dye to give it color.
This piece is inspired by the Armea bird which is found only on the island of Rotuma.
About: Rako Pasefika
Rako is an artistic movement based in Fiji. It was formed by a group of Rotuman and Polynesian artists as part of their quest to gain more insight, depth and knowledge of their heritage but with a focus on creative freedom…to recapture and revive ancient art forms and stories, but with the freedom to create new work without boundaries