dance top

A fluro coloured crocheted top.

The knowledge and skills of kolose can be passed on from mothers to daughters at a young age. This is the case with this gatu kolose made by Seitani Savaka where she crocheted the body of the top and her mother Lakiloko Keakea finished the neckline. A gatu kolose like this are worn for special occasions. They can be worn under a dress for church or alone as part of a female dance costume. This gatu kolose is paired up with a lavalava kolose (wrap-around skirt) to make up part of a woman’s dance costume. We currently have in our collection a titi or dance skirt made of pandanus leaves and a shell necklace that would then make a complete Niutao style woman’s dance costume.