Mats are donated from villages for special occasions like
weddings, funerals or 21st birthdays
Tapa cloth covering a funeral cart
Tapa cloth made by Sister Maiwiriwiri
Family tapa cloth
Tapa cloth used at a funeral
Before being weaved into mats, leaves are
boiled and dried.
Weaving dried leaves into a wedding mat
Ceremonial clothing made from tapa cloth
The three layered dress on the
left is the traditional Fijian tapa dress
The women spend hours making mats from leaves and grass and
tapa cloth from dried bark. It takes days to weave or
paint the designs into their work. They work
alone or in groups. The mats and
tapa cloth are used for funerals,
as wall and floor decorations,
ceremonial clothing
ceremonial clothing
and as gifts for tourists.
