How to roll pareo

To tie a tahitian style rolled pareo you will start off with the pareo long lengthwise

 

and we will fold it in half

 

and make a large knot in at the middle like so

 

and then you will wrap it around your hip and tie a knot on the other side

 

nice and tight from there we will roll the puddle evenly around

 

continue to roll to your desired length right above the knee preferably

 

push it down and there you go

 

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The Tahitian pareo

The Tahitian pareo (also spelled pareu in Tahitian) has a rich and colorful history deeply woven into Polynesian culture, especially in Tahiti and the Society Islands.

🌺 Origins and Traditional Use

The pareo evolved from traditional tapa cloth, which was made by beating the inner bark of trees like the paper mulberry and decorated with natural dyes. This cloth was worn by Polynesians across the islands, often draped or wrapped around the body. However, tapa was not very durable, especially in wet or humid conditions.

In the 19th century, with increased contact with European explorers and traders, cotton fabric became more accessible in Tahiti. Islanders began to use this new material to replace tapa, giving rise to the pareo as we know it today — a large, rectangular piece of brightly colored cotton cloth, often dyed or printed with floral or symbolic patterns.

🌈 Style and Symbolism

The pareo is highly versatile. It can be wrapped around the body in countless ways — as a skirt, dress, shawl, or even headwrap — and both men and women wear it. The patterns often have cultural meaning, incorporating motifs from nature like hibiscus flowers, ocean waves, turtles, and sacred geometries, each carrying its own symbolism.

Colors and patterns also play a role in identity and expression — from casual beachwear to formal attire for dancing or ceremonies.

🌍 Global Spread

Thanks to tourism and cultural exchange, the pareo spread well beyond Tahiti. In the mid-to-late 20th century, it became popular throughout the South Pacific and later around the world as a beach fashion staple. It’s often seen as a symbol of island life, freedom, and tropical beauty.

The word pareo has become common in many languages, though in other Pacific cultures, similar garments have different names — like sarong in Indonesia and lava-lava in Samoa.

💃 Today

Modern Tahiti still celebrates the pareo not just as clothing, but as a cultural emblem. It’s featured in dance performances (ori Tahiti), festivals like Heiva i Tahiti, and everyday island life. Contemporary designers now create high-end pareos with hand-painted or screen-printed art, blending tradition with fashion.