The 'Ie Samoa is a special mat from Samoa that is tied at the hem with green and red feathers and has a loose fringe at one end. Traditionally woven with fine strands of pandanus leaves, the final product is silk-like. It is a testament to its age and the natural bleaching process it undergoes. Its shiny coppery colour also adds to its value.
In Samoa, these special mats are never used to cover the floors of fale (house), but they play a significant role in Samoan culture, and are the most precious type of mat and represent most of the indigenous forms of wealth among Samoan families.
They typically represent all of the traditional wealth of Samoan families. In addition to paying respects at funerals and weddings, they are exchanged and presented to bless newly built houses and new churches. On special occasions, Ie toga is worn around the waist, much like a lavalava. In honor of a funeral, the families of the deceased are given 'Ie toga which includes mats and food in return.
The exchanges demonstrate mutual respect based on family ties. The final product is similar to silk because it is woven with fine pandanus plant fibers. Its shiny coppery color adds to its value since it is an indication of its age and the natural bleaching process it underwent. It may take several months or even years to produce a single ‘Ie Samoa.
Yet the 'Ie Samoa is more than a cultural product made with exceptional skill, its real value lies in its use as a ritual object and object of exchange through reaffirmation of kinship relationships and strengthening community bonds.
These days, le Toga are woven by a group of women in a weaving house or fale lalaga. The women and master weavers in a village have set up fine mat committees to share ideas about weaving best practices and to foster opportunities for strengthening the transmission of the craft.
Ie toga's unwoven fringe and red feathers are among its defining features. Originally these feathers came from Samoan or Fijian parakeets, but now dyed chicken feathers are used instead. The characteristics of a fine mat include its softness, shine, and fineness, but what is most important are the associations it has with people and events.