Our Promise
Every relationship we build — with makers, stockists, and customers — is grounded in these commitments.
Authenticity
Every piece we sell is genuinely handmade by a known, named maker in Solomon Islands. We never sell mass-produced imitations. Every product tag links to the maker’s story so you can verify provenance with a scan.
Fair Payment
Makers set their own prices. We pay upfront — not on consignment, not on commission. Our wholesale margin covers marketing, shipping, documentation, and distribution only. The team behind Solomon Islands Arts & Crafts donate their time and expertise.
Cultural Respect
These crafts belong to Solomon Islands’ peoples and communities. We are a conduit, not an owner. We never publish a maker’s story or image without their signed consent, and we work with cultural partners to ensure descriptions are accurate and respectful.
Consent & Transparency
Makers choose whether their name, photo, and story appear on this site. We only publish profiles with signed consent. If a maker asks to be removed, we remove them immediately — no questions, no delay.
Where the money goes
When a shop purchases a piece at wholesale, the breakdown works like this:
- The maker receives the price they set — paid upfront in Solomon Islands Dollars ($SBD) at the point of purchase in Solomon Islands, before the piece reaches Australia. Museum and gallery shops in Australia set their own prices to cover their costs.
- SIAC’s margin covers operations — international freight, import documentation, photography, provenance tagging, warehousing, and distribution to stockists.
- No middlemen, no agents — we buy directly from makers or maker cooperatives. There is no third-party supply chain taking a cut. The logistics and website team behind Solomon Islands Arts & Crafts donate their time and expertise. Only the makers are paid at the price they set.
We are a volunteer-run operation. No one at SIAC draws a salary from craft sales. Every dollar above operating costs goes toward sourcing more work from more makers.
“Are you exploiting makers?”
We get asked this, and it’s a fair question. Here’s our answer:
- Makers set their own prices. We do not negotiate down. If a maker says a bag costs $500 SBD, that’s what we pay.
- Consent is non-negotiable. No maker’s name, image, or story appears on this site without their written, signed consent. They can withdraw at any time.
- We pay upfront. Makers are paid when we collect the work — not when (or if) it sells in Australia.
- Cultural IP stays with communities. We do not claim ownership of designs, patterns, or techniques. We document provenance; we do not appropriate.
- We are transparent. This page exists so you can hold us to account. If something here isn’t right, tell us.
Meet the makers
Every piece we sell is genuinely handmade by a known, named maker in Solomon Islands.