When we say these prints are special, we’re not just talking about their beauty, we’re talking about where they come from. About the women who made them. About a family in Samoa who’ve turned cultural heritage into a living, breathing art form passed through generations.
The Salu family of Vailoa Palauli, Samoa are artists, educators, entrepreneurs, and one seriously inspiring matriarchal line. They’ve been working with siapo for decades: a traditional form of Samoan barkcloth made from the paper mulberry tree and decorated with hand-stamped motifs that speak of land, lineage, and life. It’s a practice steeped in care, ceremony, and cultural knowledge, and in the Salu household, it’s a way of life.
At the centre of this creative legacy is Faamuli Salu, now in her 80s. She began learning siapo at just 10 years old in the village of Vaipua, taught by her own mother. Over the years, she became a master, not only of the technical skill, but of its deeper purpose: to preserve, to teach, to honour. When she married and moved to Vailoa Palauli, she brought her tools (and her knowledge) with her, quietly laying the groundwork for what would become a multi-generational family business.
And that’s exactly what happened. Faamuli didn’t just create siapo, she taught it. She opened her home to local women who wanted to learn, and later began hosting workshops for visitors and tourists, showing them the beauty and significance of this ancient artform. Slowly but surely, she built something enduring: a business grounded in culture, powered by women, and sustained by community.
One of those women is Faapito Lesatele, Faamuli’s daughter-in-law. Though she didn’t grow up with siapo, she learned it directly from Faamuli, embracing the craft with full commitment. With strong ties in the community and a background in tourism, Faapito helped the family expand, connecting with hotels, building partnerships with Samoa Tourism, and creating new income streams that helped the art (and the women behind it) thrive.
Today, the next generation has stepped up. Julie and her sisters, who grew up attending their grandma’s workshops, are now leading the way with a modern edge. They're bringing siapo into the digital age: managing social media, responding to international orders, and using their platforms to educate, share, and celebrate their heritage. They’re not abandoning tradition, they’re evolving it, making sure their cultural roots stay strong while opening the door to new forms of storytelling and global reach.
Which is where Susu & Meli come in. As cultural consultants, they work directly with the Salu family to represent them in partnerships like this one with Nara, ensuring their artistry is acknowledged, protected, and never commercialised in a way that feels extractive. In Samoan culture, names carry deep meaning, so you won’t see the Salu name on garment labels or product packaging. Instead, everything is shared through Susu & Meli, with their full blessing, so that their work is seen, but their privacy and protocol are respected.
This collection features custom artworks by the Salu family, prints hand-painted using traditional methods and natural pigments, then gently digitised to preserve their integrity. While inspired by elements of siapo, these are not siapo themselves, but original artworks created specifically for this collection. From the materials to the motifs, everything has been created with purpose.
