In Moorea, pareos are produced using traditional methods. The fabrics, made of cotton or rayon, are dyed and printed locally. Artisans use a variety of techniques, including stencils, wax batik, stamps, and screen printing. The patterns are inspired by Polynesian nature—hibiscus, tiare, turtles, and plant motifs. After dyeing, the pareos are dried in the sun, which acts as a developer, then ironed before being sold. Each piece is unique, sometimes signed by hand by its creator.
Tifaifai is a meticulous craft, made step by step. It begins with the design of the pattern, often inspired by nature: uru leaves, tiare flowers, stylized waves. Then comes the cutting: one piece of fabric is applied to another, pinned with symmetry in mind, to achieve a harmonious composition. Next, basting ensures that everything will stay in place during sewing—a discreet but essential step. Then comes the sewing, by hand or sometimes by machine, stitch by stitch. The whole process ends with meticulous finishing touches to create a high-quality product, ready to accompany a birth, a reception, or to decorate a home. Tīfaifai requires patience, rigor, and repetition. It connects the artisan to the fabric, to their family history, and to the inherited pattern. The pattern that stands out today may be the result of several generations of practice, passed down, adapted, and redone.
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