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

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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