Cart: 0 items 
Sections
About our beads and traditional motifs
Beads and Traditional Motifs
It is believed that the traditional beads belonging to the Rungus community comes from many places, but most Rungus people believe that they are from mainland China. This belief is based on evidence from the traditional beads inherited from their ancestors.
Most of the beads passed down are red jade and beads made from clay in a variety of colors such as red, green, black, yellow and white. These colors are considered traditional colors. Those beads were usually aquired through barter trade with merchants from elsewhere who dropped by the village to trade beads and ceramic items for food.
Brief history on how the bead business started
In the 50s, a group of Christian missionaries from Germany came to North of Sabah and lived with the Rungus community. They gave the community formal education and changed their traditional believes.
The missionaries also introduced them to the concept of commercial bead business. It was from then that they started making traditional necklaces from small glass beads and selling them in the capital city, Kota Kinabalu. Since then the bead handicraft business has been picking up starting from the use of glass beads to using other raw materials such as rattan, bamboo and wood, depending on market demand. At that time tourists loved the local handicrafts.
Until now, the Rungus community, especially Kampung Tinangol has been recognized as a community which has natural talent in making unique and original products out of beads.
Challenges
1. The production of bead handicraft has grown big while the demand has dropped along with the prices.
2. Many people have started handicraft businesses, making it highly competitive locally.
3. The cost of beads has been increasing.
4. The market has become very competitive as most of the designs are similar.
The SINOMPURU Women’s Group’s dependence on bead handicraft.
Because of the SINOMPURU Women’s Group’s tough background, they are very dependent on the sale of the bead and seed handicrafts for their subsistence.
Written by: Malina Soning
Translated by: Puah Sze Ning
It is believed that the traditional beads belonging to the Rungus community comes from many places, but most Rungus people believe that they are from mainland China. This belief is based on evidence from the traditional beads inherited from their ancestors.
Most of the beads passed down are red jade and beads made from clay in a variety of colors such as red, green, black, yellow and white. These colors are considered traditional colors. Those beads were usually aquired through barter trade with merchants from elsewhere who dropped by the village to trade beads and ceramic items for food.
Brief history on how the bead business started
In the 50s, a group of Christian missionaries from Germany came to North of Sabah and lived with the Rungus community. They gave the community formal education and changed their traditional believes.
The missionaries also introduced them to the concept of commercial bead business. It was from then that they started making traditional necklaces from small glass beads and selling them in the capital city, Kota Kinabalu. Since then the bead handicraft business has been picking up starting from the use of glass beads to using other raw materials such as rattan, bamboo and wood, depending on market demand. At that time tourists loved the local handicrafts.
Until now, the Rungus community, especially Kampung Tinangol has been recognized as a community which has natural talent in making unique and original products out of beads.
Challenges
1. The production of bead handicraft has grown big while the demand has dropped along with the prices.
2. Many people have started handicraft businesses, making it highly competitive locally.
3. The cost of beads has been increasing.
4. The market has become very competitive as most of the designs are similar.
The SINOMPURU Women’s Group’s dependence on bead handicraft.
Because of the SINOMPURU Women’s Group’s tough background, they are very dependent on the sale of the bead and seed handicrafts for their subsistence.
Written by: Malina Soning
Translated by: Puah Sze Ning