The Cook Islands comprise of 15 tiny islands in the South Pacific, the islands combined make up a land area of just 240 square kilometers.
In the earlier of this February, we had a tropical holiday to this pacific paradise.
The first day of the trip, we arrived in Rarotonga, where the capital of the Cook Islands lies in, the people said greeting with us “Kia Orana”, which means that “may you live long”! It is a unique first gesture of friendship from a special Polynesian people, renown for their hospitality and warmth.
Visiting in the Cook Islands, I found that the style and fashion is about color, patterns and prints from the tasteful Island dresses or muumuu to the hand printed pareu or sarongs.
Cook Islands’ fashion draws from culture, environment and community. The splash of color embodies the colorful life on the islands with their vibrant flora and fauna, the limitless ocean and the omnipresent Kia Orana spirit!
As a craft lover, I have found many inspirations when visiting the Avarua’s Punanganui Market, on every Saturday, this place is buzzing with lots of local craft outlets, including traditional pacific fabric arts, wood craft, coconut shell craft and last but not least, the Polynesian black pearl jewellery.
We also visited an Art Gallery, where we found a local brand “LuSantials” selling the handmade clutches and purses. The designers Lucile and Sandrina morphed their first names with Essentials thus creating their brand :
LuSantials – So Unique, So You
The Cook Islands, with its beautiful people and strong culture, have captured our hearts. We dream of the day we will return.