Be Marshallese, Buy Marshallese
馬紹爾手工藝品風格獨特、設計精細，且全部使用天然材料製成，被認為是太平洋地區最精緻的手工藝品之一。馬紹爾語中“手工藝品”稱為Amimono。Amimono一詞源於1900年代初期，是日本人用來描述馬紹爾人所製的手工藝品。馬紹爾傳統手工藝品種類多元，從編織墊子、模型獨木舟、工作籃、帽子再到掛牆裝飾品（稱為Oboñ）等皆是非常受歡迎的系列產品。隨著時間的推移，錢包及時尚珠寶等現代手工藝品不僅保留傳統特色，更延伸發展出獨特造型。
Handicrafts are a highly specialized art form. The men and women who make these crafts possess detailed and specific knowledge of raw material preparation methods, crafting and weaving processes, as well as style and design variations. Such expertise only comes after years of practice and experience. It is a skill that has been passed down from generation to generation, and children begin to learn at a young age. Many families, especially those living in the undeveloped outer islands, earn their living through amimono.
For many who visit the Marshall Islands, these beautiful masterpieces are admired as decorations and adornments, but for the Marshallese people, it is a way of life.
Traditional Marshallese handicrafts include an array of products ranging from woven mats to model canoes, work baskets, hats, and the ever-so-popular wall hanging decorations called Oboñ. As time progressed, new people and ideas brought inspiration to Marshallese artists to create modern handicrafts such as purses and fashion jewelry.
Unique in style, intricate in design, and made of all-natural materials, Marshallese handicrafts are known to be some of the finest in the Pacific. The Marshallese word for handicrafts is Amimono. The origin of this word is not Marshallese but, in fact, Japanese; coined by the Japanese in the early 1900s to describe any and all of the handmade crafts created by the Marshallese people. In Japanese, amimono means knitting or weaving.
Kili Bag 手工編織包
馬紹爾人擅長的傳統編織藝術非常精湛，每位編織者都是習藝多年，利用各種島上的原料將這種手工藝傳承下去，例如島上盛產的椰葉、林投果葉作爲編制材料。隨著時代推移，當地婦女也在編織中融入現代設計概念，讓傳統技藝更能迎合現代風格的日常生活中。美國前第一夫人賈桂琳·甘迺迪也曾因拎著這款「Kili Bag」的手提包出席大型公開場合，而被視爲這種馬紹爾編織品的知音，意外替這股以密克羅尼西亞歷史文化爲主的傳統技藝掀起一波全球風潮！
介紹文摘自：桃園城外交典藏
Kili bag was originally made on Kili Island by Bikini Islanders who relocated to Kili during the 1950's. The Bikini Islanders created the product to sell in Kili or exchange for food. It was a form of currency. Creating a Kili basket was a family effort because it provided financial support. Kili bag became popular in the 1960s by then U.S First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as a gift from the Marshall Islands during a negotiation between RMI and U.S. Early 2017, Princess Kate Middleton specially requested a Kili bag made from Kili.
-
Material(s): Coconut fronds, dried pandanus leaves, Hibiscus fibers.
材質：椰子葉片、斑蘭葉、木槿纖維
-
Storage/Care: Do not wet. To clean, simply wipe with dry cloth.
保養：不須弄濕，只需用乾布擦拭即可
Credit: MJCC （Marshalls Japan Construction Company）
Wut in Wotje / rose in Wotjet 花朵飾品
該手工藝品由沃特傑環礁上的婦女們於1960年代設所計。截至今日，當地人仍使用花朵作為貨幣。例如：生日之際，您將收到花朵作為禮物，也可在商店裡以花朵交換商品。
It was designed in the 1960s by the ladies of Wotje. In the past and still continues today, the people of Wotje use the flowers as a currency. Example: You will receive flowers instead of money on your birthday or can be exchanged for products in the stores.
-
Material(s): Kimej (coconut fronds), dye, wire 椰子葉片、染料、金屬線
-
Storage/Care: Store in ziploc bags or container. Avoid direct sunlight to avoid fading color. Keep dry. Do not wet.
保養：請存放於密封袋/容器中。避免直接曝曬於陽光下以防褪色。切勿弄濕。
Credit: MJCC （Marshalls Japan Construction Company）
Drel in Likiep 傳統扇子
起初，利基埃普環礁上的人使用海龜殼來裝飾扇子。但由於海龜保育意識提升，改由椰子製成。這種扇子在島上隨處可見且非常便攜，多用於教堂活動、聚會場合或作為消暑使用。
Originally, Likiep used turtle shells for decoration purposes on the fans. Today, the practice has stopped due to the threat of turtle existence. The fan is commonly used in the islands to keep cool during church events, gatherings or at home. It is very convenient and light to carry around.
.png)
-
Material(s): Malawe (backbone of coconut fronds), coconut fronds, dye
材質：椰子葉脊、椰子葉片、染料
-
Storage/Care: Clean with dry cloth (two or three drops of oil onto cloth and wipe fan). Every once in a while, 2 or 3 drops of carnation milk mixed with coconut oil and rub fan to maintain the color.
-
保養：使用乾布清潔（在布上滴兩三滴油，然後擦拭扇子）。偶爾用康乃馨奶油混合椰子油，擦拭扇子保持顏色。
Credit: MJCC （Marshalls Japan Construction Company）
Iep Keke 傳統擺飾
lep Keke 是產於奧爾環礁的手工藝品，lep Keke 由椰子葉的中脊（melwe）製成，外部覆蓋乾燥的露兜樹葉，最後用從幼椰葉製成的類似絲線的纖維縫合在一起。可作為珠寶盒、洗衣籃、裝飾擺設等多種用途。
lep Keke is a mainstay for Aur weavers who sell their crafts to make a living and support their families. It is also one of the types or series of crafts, with different shapes and forms, made from the backbone (melwe) of the coconut fronds, covered with dried pandanus leaves, and finally sewn together with string like-filament made from the young coconut leaves that has been, stripped off the green/whitish part, cooked, and dried under the sun.
-
Material(s): Coconut fronds, dried pandanus leaves, string from young coconut leaves
材質：椰子葉片、乾燥露兜樹葉、幼椰子葉的繩線
-
Storage: Keep in cool and dry place. To clean, wipe with dry cloth to rid of dust.
-
保養：保持在涼爽且乾燥的地方。清潔時，用乾布擦拭以去除灰塵。
Credit: Elefa Handicraft Shop
.png)
Address
RMI Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism
P.O. Box 898 Delap Main Road, Majuro, MH 96960
Phone Number
(692) 625-4264