Barkcloth and plaited leaf fabrics were the two principal textiles people produced in the tropical island environments of the Pacific, where there were few land animals to provide fur or wool. Barkcloth is made from particular trees – predominantly paper mulberry, which was introduced to the Pacific by the first settlers. The basic techniques of making barkcloth are the same right across the Pacific. Once removed from the tree, the bark is repeatedly soaked, scraped beaten to produce a cloth of the desired thickness and softness.
Barkcloth garments, wrappings and adornment can be worn as everyday items and on ceremonial occasions, including those linked to key life cycle events such as weddings and funerals. The Elema people of Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea wore barkcloth masks for male initiation ceremonies; while in Samoa, barkcloth is worn for the investiture of chiefs.