NEW textile designs by LO'UD weavers in Timor-Leste

Inspired by time-honoured designs, LOUD’s new textiles embody sustainability and contemporary elegance. Skilfully plant-dyed and hand-woven using traditional methods, LO’UD’s slowly crafted textiles are naturally stunning. 

Ethically produced and priced, every purchase sustains weaving practices and enterprise well-being.

Australian War Memorial Tais Commission

Arte Tais Husi LO’UD

 

In 2021, the Australian War Memorial invited LO’UD to tell their own stories of Timor-Leste’s journey to independence through the enduring artform of Tais. After two years of fabulous consultative work with their members and participatory research by the LO’UD Team, we’re proud to announce that the Memorial recently received four beautiful and culturally significant Tais created by LO’UD members.

The Tais represent the resilience of Timor-Leste’s women, and their contributions to the resistance, peace, and nation-building. They also represent the cooperation between Timor-Leste and Australia, and the pivotal role played by the Australian Defence Force in restoring peace and security in Timor-Leste in late 1999.

Parabens (congratulations) to LO’UD and on their behalf, thank you to the team at the Australian War Memorial!

Born of Fire and Ash

by Craig Stockings

The Official history of Australian peacekeeping operations in East Timor - Vol. 1.

A comprehensive examination of Australia’s military involvement in East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq from 1999 to 2009. Stockings explores the political motivations, strategic challenges, and operational complexities behind each mission, offering insights into Australia’s evolving role in global conflicts. The book critically analyzes the successes, failures, and long-term impacts of these interventions, while reflecting on how they shaped Australia’s defense policies and international standing during a tumultuous decade of global military engagement.

ETWA has a big heart for rural women in Timor-Leste.

As a small Australian not-for-profit our volunteers have a direct connection with the communities of women we work with and our people-to-people approach has cultivated life-changing opportunities for members of the LO’UD Cooperative, our key partner in Timor-Leste.

LO’UD Cooperative

ETWA’s Key Partner in Timor-Leste

 

LO’UD empowers its’ members through local and appropriate economic development whilst ensuring their work preserves culture and leaves a light environmental footprint for future generations.

LO’UD draws its 80 members from three weaving collectives; one located in the flatlands of Lospalos and two in the highlands of Iliomar. In these communities, 80% of women are illiterate and less than 3% of young women attend high school.

LO’UD women speak with one voice to end poverty in their communities! ETWA has supported these amazing women since 2007.

LO’UD’s long-term vision is to seek a balance between dependence and independence and to protect, respect, preserve and cherish their culture and environment to create sustainable futures for their children.
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What's News

October 17, 2023

Arte Tais Husi LO’UD

Australian War Memorial Tais Commission 2021-2023. Inspired by ETWA’s short documentary film, Heru Ini Lafu, a curator at the Australian War Memorial reached out to ETWA to explore the possibility of commissioning Tais from LO’UD that could speak to themes of independence, and women’s role in peace and nation building. After conversations over many months, an agreement between ETWA and the Memorial was formalised in late 2021.
September 10, 2023

Tais Listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List

Traditional Timorese textiles known as 'Tais' were added to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding on the 15th of December 2021. The application was made by the Secretary of State for Art and Culture of Timor-Leste in 2020, and community consultations included weavers from Iliomar.