A type of kākahu (cloak) decorated with tassels, korowai take their name from korokoro (loose) and wai (water, or flowing). Distinctive hukahuka (tassels) cascade down these garments, rippling and swaying with the wearer’s movement.
Tassels were traditionally made from threads of muka which were rolled into a single cord and dyed black with paru (iron-rich mud). Some older korowai may have lost their tassels as paru tends to degrade natural fibres over time. From the mid-1800s weavers experimented with other materials introduced by European settlers.
Distinct types of korowai include korowai kārure, which have tassels made of three strands that appear to be unravelling, and korowai ngore, which have decorative pom poms.
This kete | set shares some examples of types of korowai cared for in New Zealand collections.
Korowai examples
Korowai kārure
Korowai with unravelling tassels
Korowai ngore
Korowai with pom poms
Read more about the different styles of kākahu on the Te Papa website: https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/3634
Related kōrero on Kōtuia: When is a korowai not a korowai?