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TABU: identity, worn with pride.

Designer Tabu Pelei Warupi brings Motuan heritage and the natural world into contemporary clothing. Her work now includes the PNG Chiefs’ first supporter jersey.

Tabu Pelei Warupi, founder of the TABU label, draws on her Boera village roots, Motuan heritage and the natural environment. The National’s October 2026 profile traces her hand-printed and hand-dyed work, her 2018 Pacific Runway appearance in Sydney, and designs for cultural and sporting occasions.

Her contribution to the PNG Chiefs’ first supporter jersey connects fashion with national identity. The story places a Papua New Guinean designer at the centre of the creative work behind a team preparing to enter the NRL in 2028.

PNG Direct editorial summary · Source: The National · Researched 2 November 2026. Reporting and photographs remain credited to their respective publishers. Historical exhibitions are labelled by year.