Tapa designs

and academic robes

By Elly Brosnahan

THE idea of a facing of tapa or masi for the gow of the Chancellor of the University of the Soul Pacific emerged at a meeting of the Committee f( Academic Dress, set up in preparation for the fir graduation ceremony in December, 1971. The commith wished to break away from the traditional heavy blac robes of most universities and substitute a comfortab lightweight material of a colour and design more a propriate to the South Pacific. Various colours we suggested and I made a number of sample gowns. Oi of these was made with tapa strips down the froi and the committee felt that this would be a strikii and appropriate facing for the gown of the Chancellc His Majesty King Taufa’ahau T'upou IV of Tonga.

I studied tapa work and designs from South Pad: countries at the Fiji Museum and made lots of sketch and possible tapa designs. A number of these were sho\ to the committee and discussed in particular with > Inoke Faletau. A few possible designs were eventual shown to the Chancellor, who offered the services his royal tapa maker to make the facings. The Ki also suggested that the facing should incorporate desig which were typical and traditional of the 10 countr associated with the university. More sketches follow* incorporating these ideas, until eventually we had very promising design. Expert advice and assistar were sought from the Hon Ve’ehala, Tonpa s Keen of the Palace Records, and I was sent to Tonga w the sketches. Both the Hon Ve’ehala and Dr Lai Kavaliku, Minister of Education, thought the cLsig appropriate but felt that the final decision lay with t Chancellor himself. His Majesty made his choice dun an hour’s private audience.

Many hours were spent making final drawings the wood carver to work from, as the design of tapa required a block from which it could be print] A carver was selected to do the job and he left completed block with the King’s tapa maker Mrs Ml Minonetti of the Langafonua, who printed the facin Six weeks later these lovely tapa facings arrived a were incorporated into the magnificent tapa brown s gown which was made for the Chancellor in Suj A similar set of facings were put on the gown for Pro-Chancellor, Masiofo Fetaui Mata’afa. The suco of this blending of South Pacific craftsmanship w traditional academic robes for the officers of University of the South Pacific led the committee* suggest that a similar facing of smaller size be corporated in the gown for the Vice-Chancellor.