Sulu jamba and just general sulu madness

How neglectful of me to have failed to introduced the hottest fashion item around town.

The sulu.

When you think Fijian fashion, you might think of many things, but most paths will lead you back to this most useful and appropriate item of clothing that keeps you warm in what passes for winter, and, well, sticks to the back of your legs when you hit the sultry summer period.

It is basically a skirt, everyone wears them, they are breezy, light, and fit everyone.

The sulu also comes in a variety of forms. Your basic sulu is a FJ$5 number, which can be purchased from the local flea market. It will come in a variety of colours, including, but not exclusive to red, orange, bright yellow, green, purple, blue, light blue, aqua and pink. Sometimes it will sport a bula flower design. It will usually spout such propaganda as:

"Happy Mother's Day"
"Go Fiji Go!"
"Jesus will guide the way"
"Warwick Beach Resort - Sigatoka"

For example:

 
They should always be carried with you for emergency village visits, where girls should have covered knees and dress attire, and for those occasions when you have to sit on the floor and also cover your knees. I learnt this the hard way at a workshop soon after my arrival in Fiji!

The sulu also comes in professional/formal format. This is referred to as a sulu jamba, which is a top and sulu combination of combined and matching bula fabrics.

Gentlemen will generally wear a male sulu, with shirt. If you are in the military marching band, you will get a fancy ridgy bottom male sulu.

It's comfortable, it's professional and it's colourful. As you can see below, myself and my colleagues each rocked sulu style at a workshop last week.

So, next time you are lost for something to wear to a party or to that really important business meeting, think of the sulu!