The image of the Kiribati warrior has reemerged, and is commonly seen on clothing and mascots for island sports teams. It is a symbol of strength and pride that younger islanders have gravitated to, proud of their heritage. The helmet surface does not make a loud sound when objects fall on it. This is achieved by the architecture of hollow and rigid nature of coir fiber as it tends to absorb more sound than plastic helmets.

The shape covers down to the sides and lower part of the head providing a tough protection for the head with the outer shell made from a hard, durable ABS plastic and a foam lining for an additional layer of protection and added comfort. UK Highlands & Islands Delivery (3 – 5 days) Scottish Highlands & Islands, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly: The answer to our question, it would seem, is that some are killed this way but not on the scale that Dr Barss was suggesting. The most highly developed armour in the Oceanic region came from the small Micronesian archipelago of Kiribati. Like the Santa Isabel shield, armour from Kiribati is rare and the Pitt Rivers Museum collection is among the most extensive in the world. One of the defining characteristics of Kiribati is its geography of low-lying coral atolls, meaning that very few raw materials were historically available. Consequently, the i-Kiribati armourer relied on ingenuity to overcome this natural obstacle. The coconut plant, as well as being plentiful, was thought to possess special protective powers. Therefore armour was woven from coconut fibre and often bore woven designs on the chest, either in a darker shade of coconut fibre, or in female human hair. These designs occasionally represented animals such as dolphin in a stylised form.

What is Kiribati Armor?

The coir helmet does not burst into flames thus, in a case of any accidental fires, the coir helmet is safer to use. Like a plastic helmet, the coir safety helmet also has the water-repellent feature. The research for this entry was produced during the European Research Council funded project: ‘Pacific Presences: Oceanic Art and European Museums’, under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC grant agreement n° [324146]11. Helmets are not just recommended for bike riding but any riskier activities where caution to head protection should be considered such as skating, scooting or skateboarding so a decent helmet is a really worthwhile investment.

To protect the head, helmets were worn. These were made from porcupine fish skin that had been left in the sun to dry out and harden. Just as with helmets from other parts of the world, beneath the Kiribati helm was a cap. The cap was made from yet more coconut fiber, or woven pandanus leaves. Eco coir safety helmet is designed to protect the wearer against falling parts and prevent a fractured skull or injuries to the brain. Regarding the main protection aim, eco coir safety helmet consists of an outer shell made of rubberized coir fibers combined with a compound. Coir has a low thermal conductivity and heat transfer through the coir-based helmet is slow. Therefore, the person who wears the helmet feels comfortable. This is particularly important for the working conditions in tropical countries.KiribatiCoconut fibre armour from Kiribati, Oceania. Collector not known. Owned by Harry Geoffrey Beasely. Given to the Museum by his wife Irene Marguerite Beasley in 1941. The warrior holds a three-pronged weapon (taumangaria) edged with shark's teeth. He may also have worn undergarments, a porcupine fish helmet and ray skin cuirass on top. Fighting in all those layers must have been quite hot and restrictive and descriptions of duels mention each warrior having an assistant with him to help keep him upright. It would be sad to think that the Kiribati people lost so much of their culture due to colonization, but thankfully, this is not true. Kiribati separated from the British Empire in 1979, and since then, traditional Kiribati culture has seen a resurgence. Kiribati armor made of coconut fiber could protect against low-velocity musketballs; however, their culture respected life and settled disputes by merely wounding their opponent ( Mary Harrsch / CC BY NC SA 2.0 )

AddThis sets this geolocation cookie to help understand the location of users who share the information. Coconut fiber string, a material still produced and used today, is the main material used for the armor, chosen not just for its availability but also its strength and flexibility. The fibers come from the husk of the coconut, found between the inner shell and the outer skin. These fibers are soaked in the water of the lagoon for two to three months, then rinsed and dried. Several fibers are rolled into small strands, which are then rolled together to create long cords. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. At first sight, Kiribati armor might look a little strange, it is certainly not a suit of armor as we tend to think of it. It was surprisingly effective, given that it was made from coconut fibers, and little else. Kiribati society changed drastically after their first encounters with westerners, but their armor offers a fascinating glimpse into what Kiribati life used to be like.

It was around this time that Kiribati armor first started appearing in western collections. Not long after this, however, the armor started to disappear. This is believed to be due to the French and British missionaries, the great destroyers of many native cultures, who descended on the island between 1888 and 1892. It's like this; our main raw material is coir. It is a waste by-product of coconut kernel based manufacturing industries. Since the industrial revolution has started the pollution of air and water has increased. So by using coir we are trying to reduce usage of synthetic material. In manufacturing this coir based helmet, we didn't use any highly hazardous chemicals. We thoroughly consider the chemicals we are using because a helmet, being a wearable thing, should not be toxic to the human skin and should be comfortable and environmentally friendly.

The nation, known today as the Republic of Kiribati, was once known as I-Kiribati. It is a nation made up of thirty-three coral atolls that are spread over 1.3 million square miles (3.5 million square kilometers). The islands are located in Micronesia, a region of the Western Pacific. The eco-friendly concept seems more popular these days. How does your product help in achieving this concept?

Who are the Kiribati?

Left: Helmet made of coconut fiber. Two ear guards extend from the rim of the helmet, and plaited coconut fiber ties for fastening extend from these ear guards. (British Museum / CC BY SA 4.0 ). Right: Helmet made of porcupine fish skin and coconut fiber. The body of a porcupine fish has been expanded and made into a helmet. Ear guards are cut from the fish's body and a two-ply twisted coir tie is used for fastening (British Museum / CC BY SA 4.0 ).