Sulu (skirt)
A sulu is a type of skirt traditionally worn by men and women in Fiji. It is regarded as Fiji's national dress.[1]
It consists of a rectangle of cloth of varying length, between below-knee and ankle-length, wrapped around the hips and legs and traditionally fastened by tying at the waist. Modern men's sulus may be fastened with buckles.[2]
Women's casual or everyday sulus are known as sulu-i-ra, and more elegant full-length ones for dressy occasions as sulu jaba.[3] Men's sulus are known as sulu vakataga.
Tailored sulus with pockets are commonly worn as part of Fijian men's business and formal wear,[3][4][5] with shirt and sandals and optionally western-style jacket and tie. In certain situations, such as entering a church, wearing a sulu is seen as respectful.[6] Tailored sulus also feature in police and military uniforms.[7] Official uniform sulus come to below the knees and feature a distinctive zigzag hem.
In Fiji the sulu is seen as an expression of ethnic Fijian identity. While wearing a sulu is often mandatory for Fijians in certain settings,[8][9] members of other ethnicities are sometimes discouraged from wearing it.[10]
See also
- Sulu - a province in the Philippines, which had been part of the Sultanate of Sulu.
References
- ^ "Clothing and dress in Fiji". Go-Fiji.com. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ Sitiveni Rabuka (2007-05-27). "Sukuna and native land". Fiji Times. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ a b "Skirts for men, or everything you always wanted to know about the sulu". 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ Frederica Elbourne (2012-10-05). "Get ready for the sale". Fiji Times. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ "People & Culture of Fiji Islands". Fiji.ResortsPacific.com. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ Tamara McLean (2009-08-18). "Tiny Fijian island bans men's pants on Sundays". Perth Now. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ Nicholas D. Kristof (1987-05-23). "Fiji army returns to barracks in political accord". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ "Media dress code mooted". Fiji Times. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ Serafina Silaitoga (2010-10-15). "T-shirt ban on women". Fiji Times. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ^ Theresa Ralogaivau (2010-02-06). "Sulu uproar". Fiji Times. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
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