Puletasi

The puletasi (Samoa) or puletaha (Tonga) is a traditional item of clothing worn by Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian women and girls. Today, puletasi is used as a female full dress. It is most commonly worn to church and formal cultural events.[1]

Photo of girls wearing traditional dress.
School students in New Zealand wearing puletasi.

The puletasi is a two-piece outfit with a skirt and a top, either with both pieces in the same fabric or as a plain skirt and patterned top.[2] The skirt is usually a wrap skirt or 'ie lavalava, with ties around the waist.[3] For formal occasions or performance, decorations of tapa cloth, woven flax or other material may be layered around the waist over the skirt.[4] In recent years, different styles and improvisations have been added.

References
  1. "Cultural Practices and Protocols" (PDF). Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Retrieved 12 Nov 2021.
  2. Mallon, S. (2002). Samoan Art and Artists. A latitude 20 book. University of Hawaii Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0-8248-2675-8. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  3. "Puletasi". Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  4. de Pont, Doris (Nov 2019). "The Gentle Wrap". New Zealand Fashion Museum. Retrieved 12 Nov 2021.


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