Korowai (cloak)

Made of muka fibre (Phormium tenax) this korowai from the Rev. Hammond collection has symmetrically placed hukahuka tassels and is probably from the Taranaki/Whanganui region of the North Island.

The kurupata (or collar region) of the cloak has a concentration of tassels accentuating the top of the garment and the remaining three side of the cloak has remnants of looping which became standard and decorative design elements post European contact. This decorative technique was worked into the weaving during the making of the garment and was commonly done with coloured wool.

Weaving
Cloak weaving was always done from left to right, with the work suspended between two upright turuturu (weaving sticks) stuck into the ground. For large cloaks, two pairs were necessary to keep the operative edge at the correct height.