NOVICA, in association with National Geographic, searches the world to work directly with the finest artisan designers. Perfect for warm weather fashions, this bag is an exclusive creation by Balinese designer Nengah Danantara. Shaped like a traditional basket, the bag is tightly hand-woven of ate, a natural fiber resistant to water. Lined, the bag features a stylized handle reminiscent of the sun rising over the Balinese horizon. Artisan Info: "I was born on November 16, 1978, the second child in family. My mother is Nengah Suji, a senior ate maker in our village. My father was a cab driver; I often accompanied him driving around when I was a child. Time passed by, and I learned to print Balinese handwriting on a palm leaf, as well as carving images on this leaf; my grandfather taught me. When demand grew for ate products, many in my village started dedicating more time to this craft, and I saw it as a challenge to learn how to make these items too. "Weaving ate is not as hard as people may think, but it's not an easy work either. One needs a lot of patience to weave one tiny piece of ate into a basket or bag. "I would like to thank Novica for making my work part of the largest network of artists in the Internet. I hope my products find favor with Novica clients."
