The Women of Yap's Outer Islands: Weaving Their Cultural Identity

摘要

When they come of age, around 14, the women of the Pacific Outer Islands of Yap must wear lava lavas, a handwoven, wrap-around sarong with a fringe on both ends that's woven on a simple backstrap loom. The loom is made of breadfruit wood or mahogany with bamboo heddle sticks, shed rods and a mahogany beater and shuttle. Before then, the young girls wear simple sarongs, loose pants or knee-length skirts, usually with T-shirts.