Fijian Masi: Bark Cloth in Ceremonies
Claire Fontaine·Published
Masi in Fijian Life
Masi is Fijian bark cloth, integral to ceremonial exchange. Used as clothing, bedding, and prestige gifts.
Two Styles
- Masi kesa: stenciled patterns from banana leaves
- Masi kuvui: smoked dark cloth with rubbed patterns
Stenciling
Geometric stencils cut from dried leaves. Brown dye creates crisp negative-space patterns in brown on cream.
