MERI-BLOUSE (KOLOS) - A WESTERN INFLUENCE

Meri blouse (kolos) is a form of wear worn mostly by women in Papua New Guinea. It is sewn to adequately cover the female's body down to the knee. Early missionaries introduced it for women to wear, especially on special occasions as a substitute for their traditional dressings. As time goes by, it was introduced to other parts of the country, and it has taken its place as a national wear for women in the country.

Wearing a meri-blouse in Papua New Guinea symbolises womanhood and earns respect in communities. It is also comfortable and gives confidence. Today nearly every region in the country has its own unique design. For instance, in the Momase area, the design is different from those in the Islands region. The same can be said for those in the Highlands and the Southern part.

Meri-blouse has its economic importance. For instance, women in Papua New Guinea sells a meri-blouse for K70 and K80 depending on demand, making up to K800 a week. The little income they earn help pays for school fees and household needs.

Our goals at Jets Tailoring is helping other small businesses by partnering with them. One of the services we provide is to allow small enterprises to sew their blouses at an affordable price. Those small businesses or individuals wishing to be partners with Jets Tailoring Limited can send us a message on one of our social media platforms.