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Bodice underskirt with tāniko design

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New Zealand Fashion Museum

Renowned master weaver, Emily Schuster, designed and made this bodice and underskirt. It  was worn with a piupiu, that is now missing. It was worn by Linda Ritchie at the Miss Universe Contest in Miami in 1972. On her return journey to New Zealand the piupiu was stolen at Heathrow Airport. Linda recalls: "Because I was from Rotorua and a world of Māoridom I chose to wear it. Emily Schuster wanted me to wear it. She fine-tuned it, made me a bodice and underskirt, it still conveyed were I came from." Emily's son Jim Schuster told Rotorua Museum that his mother created a special shaping for the bodice of this garment in order to give a sexy look to the cleavage. Traditionally the tāniko bodices on Māori garments were meant to be flat and not shaped.

Ngā whakamārama -
Details

  • Title

    Bodice underskirt with tāniko design

  • Maker

    Emily Schuster

  • Contributor

    Images courtesy of Linda Ritchie Collection, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa, L2010.34.8

  • Date made

    1971

  • Subject

    Traditional costume (lacks piupiu)

  • Rights

    Images courtesy of Linda Ritchie Collection, Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa, L2010.34.8 ; All Rights Reserved, Image © Rotorua Museum Te Whare Taonga o Te Arawa

Kei hea tēnei taonga? -
Where is this item held?

New Zealand Fashion Museum

Whare taonga | Organisation

New Zealand Fashion Museum

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  • Text adapted with permission from Te Papa and Digital NZ

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