waist garment
Wāhanga PacificRā Tāpiringa 20 Oct 1953Accession Number 1953.155.1Kupu whakaahua Manafau. Dancing skirt. Manafau are skirts worn to perform in by both men and women and children, they are made from fau (hibiscus) fibre and there are different variations of…
Manafau. Dancing skirt. Manafau are skirts worn to perform in by both men and women and children, they are made from fau (hibiscus) fibre and there are different variations of manafau depending on the maker, the wearer, and the village they hail from. The most basic manafau are made from natural coloured fau but there are others with embellishments such as dyed fau, decorated waistbands etc. This manafau is made from natural coloured fau, the strips are looped and knotted onto a waist length piece of fau which makes up the main waistband. The fau strips are left to hang loose.