Pareu, or more commonly known as Pareo, is a colorful fabric generally measuring 2 square meters, but which can also be smaller. It's very popular with Polynesian women, who wear it in a variety of ways learned from their mothers and grandmothers at an early age. Men also wear it around the waist. Because of the tropical climate of our islands, the Pareu, light by essence, allows fluidity and ease of movement. It can be worn in town, on the beach, and especially at home. Made from fibranne, it's also highly prized for Tahitian dancing, as its suppleness makes it possible to render each movement beautifully.

The history of pareu
Seduced by the bewitching grace of Polynesian women, Paul Gauguin frequently immortalized them in his works, adorning them with pareu. In Polynesia, pareu is generally hand-painted with fabric paints of varying brightness. The themes of the motifs commonly used are terrestrial flora (tropical flowers, the breadfruit tree known as “maiore”), marine life, and islands with more or less vivid colors.

Lightweight fabric and beautiful colors
Wearing a pareo is a most pleasurable experience: its lightness and fluidity delicately embrace the body, while its vibrant colors and exotic patterns bring a sense of freedom and natural elegance. There are many ways to create a pareo, depending on individual tastes and aspirations.
The first is to soak the fabric in dye baths obtained by diluting paint in water, to create different gradations and effects.

A pareo, the lagoon and the sun
Then dry in the sun on a flat surface. To impregnate the pareu with patterns during drying, place appliques with the desired motifs flat on the fabric. Alternatively, freehand paint or stencil the chosen designs. If you follow these tips, you'll be able to create beautiful personalized pareu! In addition to painting, pareu can also be embroidered.