An ie toga is a traditional mat worn and passed down through families in Samoan culture. It is made through a complex and lengthy process of harvesting, preparing, and weaving dried pandanus leaves. First, pandanus leaves are dried, split, cut, and braided, then soaked in the ocean. Women carefully weave the fibers together over many years to create a mat that is symbolic of prestige, obligation, and power within Samoan society. The finished mat is washed and stretched to dry before being worn for special occasions or exchanged as gifts between families.
An ie toga is a traditional mat worn and passed down through families in Samoan culture. It is made through a complex and lengthy process of harvesting, preparing, and weaving dried pandanus leaves. First, pandanus leaves are dried, split, cut, and braided, then soaked in the ocean. Women carefully weave the fibers together over many years to create a mat that is symbolic of prestige, obligation, and power within Samoan society. The finished mat is washed and stretched to dry before being worn for special occasions or exchanged as gifts between families.
An ie toga is a traditional mat worn and passed down through families in Samoan culture. It is made through a complex and lengthy process of harvesting, preparing, and weaving dried pandanus leaves. First, pandanus leaves are dried, split, cut, and braided, then soaked in the ocean. Women carefully weave the fibers together over many years to create a mat that is symbolic of prestige, obligation, and power within Samoan society. The finished mat is washed and stretched to dry before being worn for special occasions or exchanged as gifts between families.
Ie togas are meant to be worn The ie toga has become a Ie Togas are present in many and passed down within a symbol of Samoan culture. Samoan traditions and are family. Most Samoan family's They are a status symbol and meant to be worn on special most valuable possession is imbue ideas of prestige, occasions. They are often a an ie toga that has been obligation, deference and part of a woman's dowry or handed down for generations. power. exchanged as gifts.
HOW IS IT MADE?
PREPARATION WEAVING BATHING
Pandanus leaves are sun- The pandanus fibers are After weaving is finished the dried, split, cut, braided, woven together by women mat is spread out and soaked in the ocean for who are very careful not to sprinkled with soapy water several days, and dried again weave too loose or too tight. and rubbed with a cloth. before the weaving process It takes years to master the Afterwards it is stretched out can begin. proper technique. with rocks and left to dry.