These bags use a mass-produced canvas tote (made in India from 100% cotton) as a base, with a synthetic felt appliquéd patch on one side, and Paracord cross-body braided bag strap with cowrie shells and beading, attached to snap-hook carabiners.

They’re a cute handbag scale, 25x26cm with a 5cm flat base. Hand-made in South Auckland with lots of love!

100% cotton canvas, felt, pom-pom trim, ric-rac trim, cord, cowries shells, beads, aluminium snap-hook carabiners, brass-coated grommets

2025 | Bag approx : 250x260mm, 50mm base | Cord approx: 1300mm long

Vasemaca (FKA Ema) Tavola is a Fijian-Pākehā artist-curator currently based in South Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Tavola’s practice is aligned with the politics of decolonisation and indigenous feminisms, motherhood, and histories of BIPOC art and activism in the Global South. She established her painting practice in Suva, Fiji before relocating to South Auckland where she studied sculpture and arts management, and is currently undertaking postgraduate research in applied indigenous knowledge.

Since 2004, Tavola has produced curatorial projects for galleries and museums throughout Aotearoa and travelled extensively speaking on her approach to indigenous curatorial practice. In 2019, she established Vunilagi Vou, a shapeshifting gallery, creative studio and consultancy advocating for creative practice as a tool for connection, healing and decolonisation.

As a visual artist, Tavola has been exhibiting since 2000 showing in Fiji, Aotearoa, Europe, North America, Australia and the Pacific. She has work in public and private collections both nationally and internationally.

Born in Suva, Tavola is proud to belong to Mataqali Navusalevu, a sub-tribe of Natusara, from the village of Dravuni, the northernmost inhabited island of the province of Kadavu, Fiji.

For more information, see https://vasemacatavola.com/about/