Chrissie Cheng | Editor in Chief
Marissa Black | Copy Editor
There are different ways to honor your heritage—some do it through celebrations, some through family meals, others through stories. Yet another way is by rolling up your sleeves. Even if you weren’t born there, you’re able to represent your heritage’s history on your back. We decided to explore different sides of cultures by examining the patterns and symbolism woven throughout traditional clothing. We talked to three students from our own community who celebrate their roots simply by wearing them.
Tonga
Senior business major Michelle Eke’s mother grew up in Tonga—a group of islands called the “Friendly Islands” in Oceania. Her mother moved from the island of Tongatapu to America in 1989, and Michelle still celebrates the traditions and cultural dress of her Tongan roots.
The patterns most often used in traditional Tongan garments are very specific, Eke says, as they incorporate different tribals that work to tell a story. The colors most often used are red, white and different shades of brown. Traditional clothing for men and women are similar in function, but differ in appearance depending on the gender.
“Both men and women wear a tupenu which is essentially a traditional skirt. Over the clothing men and women wear a ta’ovala which is essentially a mat wrapped around your body. Ta’ovalas can also be worn by children,” Eke said.
Because the patterns are infused with meaning and symbolism, Eke says she especially identifies with the patterns that symbolize strength.
“It is essentially lines staggered on top of one another in almost a triangle shape,” Eke said. “I identify with this specific pattern because it also reminds me of my family and how they are truly my strength when earthly things fail.”
Indonesia
Junior public relations major Stacy Sindoro grew up in a suburb of Jakarta in Indonesia, attending university there before moving to the U.S. in 2015 and then transferring to Azusa Pacific from Pasadena City College.
Growing up in Indonesia, Sindoro and her family wore the traditional style of batik clothing, which is a method of dyeing textiles with certain designs. These vibrant-colored patterns are traditionally worn by older generations, but the youth of Indonesia have recently reclaimed the use of batik.
“Batik is a part of our identity… it’s unifying… It’s not a perception that it’s just for old people… no matter if you’re old or you’re young, this is what we have in our country,” Sindoro said.
Batik is often worn for special occasions, such as graduations and weddings. Her mother and father sometimes wear matching batik-patterned outfits, while she and her sister wear batik dresses in bright and vibrant colors. However, batik’s influence also extends beyond Indonesian culture, as other countries have begun participating in the traditionally Indonesian pattern.
“I saw a picture of Obama wearing batik shaking hands with my former president, so it’s cool to see the president wearing batik and recognizing Indonesia,” Sindoro said. “It makes me really happy to see him wear it; it’s respectful and it connects us. They become a part of our family because they’re recognizing Indonesia.”
Sindoro says she enjoys when other ethnicities and nationalities celebrate her culture by wearing batik. As long as others recognize where the pattern originally comes from and seek to respect Indonesia while wearing the clothing, Sindoro says it feels like she sees bits of Indonesia wherever she goes.
“I’m so happy seeing people use it, it’s like a piece of home,” Sindoro said. “It’s great to see that my culture exists and people appreciate and love it too.”
Nigeria
Senior marketing major Babatunde Abon’s grandmother, Olu Ilori, was born and raised in Nigeria. She came to the U.S. in the 1980s, but is still deeply connected with her roots in the Yoruba tribe.
The Yoruba tribe is one of the three largest ethnic groups in
Nigeria, the other two being the Igbo tribe and the Hausa- Fulani tribe. Each ethnic group has a different way of dressing, integrating various patterns and colors.
“Yoruba uses bright color patterns intermixed within the materials to express their identity,” Ilori said. “Some examples of patterns include different sceneries like stars, all type of shapes, plants, the moon and insects to name a few.”
The Igbo tribe uses similar patterns as the Yoruba tribe, while The Hausa-Fulani tribe prefers to use simpler colors, such as white, beige, yellow or blue in solid color patterns.
One of Abon’s favorite aspects of traditional Nigerian clothing is its symbolism for family and unity.
“The traditional clothing of Nigeria is significant to me because it signifies a calling for celebration and it identifies the event going on,” Abon said. “One thing that’s really cool about [Nigerian clothing] is that a lot of people in the culture will match their clothing with their family so you can identify who’s a part of each family based on their clothing.”
For example, Abon’s family wore matching silk and loose Nigerian clothing with floral print woven throughout specifically designed for his mother’s 40th birthday.
“I would say that one was by far my favorite because it was very elegant and luxurious to have that kind of Nigerian outfit well-made,” Abon said.
Whether you’re from Tonga, Indonesia, Nigeria, China or Mexico—wearing your country’s traditional clothing allows you and your community to engage with your roots in a whole new way.
“Wearing traditional clothing creates the opportunity to share your history or your parent’s history,” Abon said. “It promotes conversation and potential friendships.”