'Ato lau fala

'Ato lau fala. Bag made from pandanus leaf. This is an 'ato (bag; basket) made from lau fala (pandanus leaf). The 'ato portrays a rectangular base and four sides that extend from this. The opening of the bag has been designed to hinge the two longest sides together. Lau paoga (stiff kind of pandanus leaf) has been used to reinforce the edges of this clasp and the base of the 'ato. The 'au (handles) are made of a fili tolu (three-ply) braid and also from lau fala. A small, off-white pule (shell) has been attached to the centre of the closure where a small loop of lau fala has been attached adjacent for fastening the sides together. Black dyed lau fala, possibly from alama (pigment used for tattooing) or synthetic dyes has been used to create decorative borders through the lalaga (weave).