A Polynesian Trademark accessory

The pareo is the inseparable vahine*’s accessory. Not only considered as a symbol of Polynesian culture in terms of clothing but its confection requires a meticulous process and artful expertise.

Traditionally handmade for generations, the pareo is a work of art that requires precision and hand-craftsmanship. It is made in two traditional ways:
The first method consists of soaking the fabric in a dye, then placing it to dry under the sun. By laying out different flowers and leaves during its exposure, they serve as stencils sets on fabric, you will obtain one pareo with the different coloured designs and ranges of color.
The second practical method consists of tracing designs on the pareo in wax. The dried wax creates a thick line delimiting your drawing during its colouring. One then is left to colour the parts of the design by respecting the borders of the wax lines. After drying in the sun and some washing to remove wax, the pareo is ready.

Worn by both men and women throughout French Polynesia, it is a comfortable, light and versatile article allowing for comfort to better endure the tropical climate of the Pacific. There is lot of ways to wear the pareo. You will find the different ways on this website.

Nowadays the pareo is considered an essential beach accessory made and worn all around the world. More than a traditional clothing article, today the pareo is considered a fashion accessory…