Whether you’re an organization, retailer, or individual supporter, share your details and how you’d like to collaborate.
Our team will review your submission and get in touch.
Apo Meri is a women-led social enterprise that helps rural PNG artisans earn sustainable income through traditional crafts. Founded in Goroka in 2021, the initiative has grown into a network supporting more than 1,000 families across the Eastern Highlands Province.
Apo Meri began with one meaningful encounter.
In 2020, in the Eastern Highlands, our founder, Evelyn Mopafi, met artisan John Kafe, whose remarkable craftsmanship was limited by isolation. Helping John reach new buyers revealed a greater purpose: to connect entire communities of skilled artisans across Papua New Guinea with markets at home and abroad.
That idea took shape in April 2021, when Apo Meri was founded as a women-led social enterprise. What started as support for male basket makers soon grew to include female bilum weavers, the heart of PNG’s cultural artistry.
Through social media and digital marketing, we built a platform that bridges the gap between rural makers and global customers.
Our mission gained national recognition in October 2023, when we received three PNG SME Awards, paving the way for our first retail space at Rangeview Plaza.
To empower rural Papua New Guinea artisans by providing a global, ethical platform for their traditional crafts, ensuring they earn fair, sustainable, and immediate income.
To see thriving, independent rural communities where traditional knowledge is preserved, celebrated, and passed down, creating lasting cultural and economic stability for future generations across Papua New Guinea.
Our core values guide every decision, transaction, and partnership at Apo Meri.
We create dignified, fair work opportunities and provide upfront payment to ensure immediate and sustainable income for our rural partners.
We operate with radical transparency and low profit margins to ensure the maximum percentage of every sale directly benefits the maker.
We celebrate and protect the traditional knowledge embedded in every design, actively supporting the transfer of local skills to younger generations.
We are deeply rooted in the Eastern Highlands, working directly with families and clans to support their entire livelihoods, including weaving, basket making, and other local initiatives.
We prioritize handmade products made from natural and recycled materials, promoting environmentally sound practices and building enduring, resilient livelihoods.
We thank the many supporters across Papua New Guinea who proudly carry Apo Meri bilums, display our rugs in their homes, and share our story with others. Your purchases keep our work alive and our weavers inspired.
Whether you’re an organization, retailer, or individual supporter, share your details and how you’d like to collaborate.
Our team will review your submission and get in touch.
Have an inquiry, partnership idea, or feedback? Send us a message – our team will get back to you soon.