Our Story

We are an ethical brand dedicated to contributing to society in a responsible, positive, and sustainable way.

Pāli was born in 2018 in a remote village in Myanmar. In awe of the Burmese people and their traditional weaving methods that have been passed down through generations, our collaboration began.

We, Maggie and Cass, are a mother-daughter team based in Melbourne, Australia. We have since been working closely with our local guide and interpreters, who have enabled us to interact and trade directly and ethically with artisans in the villages to bring their craft to the world. 

Now, in 2025, we have expanded our support to artisans in The Philippines and Java.

MYANMAR STORY

Headweaver Nyo Nyo and Passionfruit baskets, Myanmar 2019

Traditional and Market style baskets are used by locals, including the monks, in their daily lives to carry shopping, fresh produce, flowers and fresh fish. They are durable, strong and long-lasting. We have closesly worked alongside our weavers to develop unique colourways and seasonal ranges.

Baskets in the local marketplace, Nyaungshwe Myanmar 2020 

We believe in the transformative power of economically empowered women and men, in remote communities. 

We work with around 600 skilled artisans across four villages, traditionally led by the female head of the village. They work in the comfort of their own homes where they can care for their families and tend to daily chores.

Development opportunities have been limited for rural Burmese villages due to economic and political restrictions. Trading directly and placing ongoing orders translates to secure employment for the villagers and wider community. This, in turn, provides financial security and the ability to educate families and plan for the future.

Cass and Maggie donating books and pencils to students in a village primary school, Myanmar 2020 

The weavers determine a fair price for their work, that allows for supplies, income for weavers and all other costs. Money is distributed fairly throughout the community and contributes to school supplies, roads, infrastructure and general living costs. 

Alongside placing ongoing basket orders, we are proud to donate and further support our team and the wider community, particularly with the ongoing political crisis and civil war our support is needed more than ever. As well, in the last year, Myanmar has been the victim of severe natural disasters including a typhoon that caused nationwide flooding and large magnitude earthquakes that have caused so much destruction and need for relief and rebuild.

Cass and Maggie with family of headweavers in the village, Myanmar 2020

Each basket sold makes a difference, and allows our ongoing support for the weavers and the wider communities, particuarly in times of such hardship.  

Although it is unsafe to visit Myanmar at the moment due to the war, we can ensure that fair and happy working conditions remain as we are in constant communitcation with our team on-the-ground. 

Cass with children in the village, Myanmar 2019

Baskets are woven from pallet strapping made from recycled plastics. Plastic bottles and other plastics collected from gutters, streets and beaches. This not only helps clean up the local environment, but provides a small income for collectors. Factories where plastics are recycled and new strapping is made are local in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand.

A local woman collecting plastics off the beach to be taken to the factory for recycling

The weaving process is done entirely by hand, and most colourways are completely unique, no two basket is the same.

Baskets are designed to be sustainable, to last a very long time, aiming to replace single use or short-lasting bags.

Headweavers weaving Passionfruit baskets in their village home

Handles of Passionfruit baskets are made from rattan (a native climbing palm with long stems) purchased from local farmers, which has been stripped of thorns, cleaned, then moulded into a round handle. The base of KuuKuu baskets and Passionfruit baskets are made from bamboo also purchased from local farmers, which is turn supports their lifestyle.

We are proud to support the talented weavers, their amazing skills and traditions.

A Passionfruit basket in the making

THE PHILIPPINES STORY

 

In 2021, we were faced with never receiving another shipment from Myanmar again. In the midst of COVID-19 and the ongoing political crisis and civil war in Myanmar, logistics became near impossible. We were, and still are, devastated for the beautiful people of Myanmar, our second family, for enduring such hardship. We also haven't been able to visit since 2020 which breaks our hearts, but we are thankful for the internet as we can still contact our interpreters and weavers. Here we are, several years later, and thankfully we can still get money into the country, not only for baskets, but for support during these times and additional natural disasters that Myanmar has faced.

But it got us thinking, maybe we can expand our support to other communities outside of Myanmar. We connected with an amazing foundation in the Philippines that has been initiating community projects focusing on health, housing and infrastructure, education and disaster relief since 2008. A livelihood program was created to teach mothers, without stable means of income, new skills and to provide them with employment. By weaving bags from upcycled materials, this program helps support women and their families. The program is still small but growing to help women in new communities.

Our mission is to bring the weaver’s beautiful work from the Philippines to Melbourne/Naarm and beyond. Each bag sold allows our ongoing support for the program, and continuous work for the women.

Tala totes are handmade from laminated sacks, mostly rice and feed packaging. The sacks are thoroughly washed and sanitised before being cut into strips for hand-weaving.

We believe in upcycling materials (that would have otherwise gone to waste) into functional art and fashion.