PARADISEGYPSY CULTURE & DANCE Titi

TITI 'IE TOGA or TAUVALA (Woven Skirt) is now quite rare as it is a very difficult and long process to make one and undertaken now by only the more experienced senior weavers. This beautiful Tauvala was made by an elderly lady I know who lives in the Fagaloa Bay area of Upolo Island which is where the oldest, finest handicrafts in Samoa are still made. The Tauvala is now very rarely found anywhere here in Samoa. These were traditionally worn by both men and ladies on special cultural occasions, such as getting a new chief's title name and for the Talking Chief for speeching along with the to'oto'o and fue. The tauvala is also part of the special costume of the Taupou who a girl that, on important occasions, prepares the Kava drink in the Samoan culture. It is also worn for the Taualuga dance and taupou's dance as well as men's dances during entertainment.
The process to make the tauvala is the same as in the making of the very fine traditional Samoan mat called the 'Ie Toga where the woven pandanus strips are about 1/8" wide and the mat is decorated with feathers. The 'IE TOGA Fine Mat was, and still is, the most important part of Samoan traditional gift-giving (apart from food). These fine mats are always given at celebrations and events and are representive of a very important part of the Samoan Culture. Made from the Pandanus plant leaf which is first anchored in the sea until bleached almost white, then dried in the sun, then steamed to make more flexible, dried again, and rolled like a wheel until needed. The tauvala can vary in width from 40" to 48" wide plus the 2 ties (one on each end) which are each about 20" long. It is about 16" to 18" in length including the fringe. The tie is very secure in that it is a handbraided rope from pandanus plant placed at the top of the tauvala after it was woven and then the tauvala was wrapped around it and then handsewn in place. There are a row of the 3/4" woven-in decorative "key" holes, which are difficult to weave in themselves (design may not be exactly identical to the photo). The attached feathers are hand-dyed.
Price: $45.00 each (plus shipping).

TITI FULUMOA - FEATHERED TITI (skirt) and a Matching HEADPIECE called a SEI (in middle of photo) - Handmade (each feather is strung separately) with 8 strands of many handdyed feathers - comes with a matching 2-strand headpiece (SEI). It is worn by both men and ladies on special cultural occasions, such as getting a new chief's title name. This Titi is also part of the special costume of the Taupou who is a girl that, on important occasions, prepares the Kava drink in the Samoan culture. It is also worn for the Taualuga dance as well as men's dances during traditional entertainment. Each feathered strand is about 10" long and the holding strap measures about 50" long but this varies and can easily be made smaller or larger. Price: $48.00 each or 12 or more for $42.00 each (plus shipping)

Dancer's TITI (titi fau), KIKI or 'Grass Skirt', Necklace (ula fau) and Coconut Bra (Papa Ipu) - The Titi Fau or Kiki Fau is handmade of many strips of the fau tree bark which is natural color or hand dyed different colors being green, yellow, red or blue. The top of the titi is expandable and has strips for tying. Length is about 35" to 40".
It also can be made with feathers at the top.
Prices: Titi Fau - natural color - $20.00 each, 12 or more $14.00 each; Dyed (green, yellow, red, blue)- $30.00 each
Titi Fau Fulumoa - short length - $39.00 each, long length $49.00 each
Coconut Bra (Papa Ipu) is made of either dark or light coconut shell with bands (straps) of sennet (hand-braided 3-strand natural coconut fiber) and is a "one-size-fits-all". It is made either plain or handpainted with a floral and/or tapa designs.
Price: Coconut Bra: Plain $14.00 each or Painted $18.00 each (plus shipping).
Woven Bra (Papa Laufala) is handwoven completely from the Laufala plant fiber (Pandanus). Price: $20.00 each
Ula Fau necklace is made of strips of the fau tree which have been dyed different colors.
Prices: Ula Fau: $5.00 each, 12 or more $4.00 each.
BONE Ula Nifo (toothed necklace) made from bone or coconut shell, see ULA page
NEW: Dancers' Ankle Klackers - See them below.