The Samoan skirt, also called a lavalava, is a common garment for men and women. Traditionally, in island culture, clothing typically consists of a piece of tapa, cloth made from the bark of native trees, while elsewhere lavalava may be found as cotton or other materials. Normally, women wear lavalava reaching down to their ankles, while men wear them down to just above or just below the knee. The exact length depends on the occasion and activity for which the lavalava is to be worn.
Instructions
1. Measure out the width of the cloth so that it completely wraps around the wearer's waist with some room to either tie the ends or tuck in.
2. Cut the cloth to a length which fits the height of the wearer. For women, this is typically down to just above the ankles. For men, this is either above or below the knee. Leave an extra 1 inch at the bottom of the cloth.
3. Fold the bottom of the cloth by a 1/4-inch up and into the wrong side of the lava-lava (the side which faces inward, toward the wearer's legs). Pin the fold down and iron a seam into the end of the lavalava. Be cautious if using an iron on tapa.
4. Remove the pins and fold the end another 1/4-inch to create a double fold. Pin the new end once again and iron another seam. Leave the pins in for now. Once this is completed, do the same for the top side of the fabric.
5. Sew through the middle of each fold. Add a backstitch at the beginning and end the seams to add strength to the sides. Trim the threads as necessary. Wear the lavalava around the waist and either tucked in or tied at the ends.
Tags: below knee, bottom cloth, down just, down just above, just above