One of the most important and common crafts in Samoan culture is the weaving of fine mats. Traditionally, fine mats were used as a kind of currency, and are still very much a part of Samoan life. There are two kinds of fine mats: the fala lili’i (sleeping mat) and the ‘ie tōga (a particularly precious mat decorated with feathers). The fala lili’i is usually decorated around the edge with colorful yarn. Generally, people sleep on the mats on the floor, but even on a bed, people seem to like to put a mat under the mattress with the edge sticking out around the sides. The ‘ie tōga used to be decorated with real birds’ feathers, but these days people use fake plastic ones.

(Fa'atoga is weaving an everyday mat for sitting on.)

(Toe'e is weaving a fala lili'i.)

Most of the middle-aged and older women in my village dedicate a lot of time and effort into making fine mats. Weaving the mats is a very tedious job, and the ‘ie tōga in particular can take months to complete.

(My host parents Tauanu'u and Lamosa are stretching out an 'ie toga.)

Fine mats are given at fa’alavelaves (weddings, funerals - more on fa'alavelave later) and some women are now making the mats to sell to wealthy families (some fine mats can apparently fetch up to several thousand tālā).