The Fourth of July is a public holiday in America. It is the day Americans commemorate the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, signed in 1776. As is customary with holidays, the 4th of July also provides an opportunity to gather and celebrate. If it's not families having a barbecue together, then it's organizations hosting get-togethers, concerts, or festivals.
Since this date is close to the Surinamese holiday Keti Koti, I decided to celebrate the American holiday in traditional clothing. However, there was a problem. I don't know how to tie Pangis well, let alone put those intricate folded Anjisas on my head.
Nevertheless, I had to do something with the beautifully colored Pangis I own, because especially now that African print is in vogue, I want to show how unique the Surinamese motifs are.
To get some ideas, I looked at what YouTube had to offer, and it was certainly not disappointing. There are countless videos that teach you how to tie a scarf as a dress. That was very close to my goal of wearing the Pangi as a modern African-inspired dress. A challenge, but I thought it should be doable.
After gathering some inspiration, I enthusiastically started working with my Surinamese Pangis.
Inexperienced as I am, it took some figuring out at first, but I must say I had a lot of fun. Not only in putting on the Pangi and figuring out what was possible, or if it would stay on, but also walking around in my own tied creation and especially the reactions to it.
Daily I see many dresses, skirts, and headscarves with African print, but the Pangi truly stands out. It's the color combination and the hand-embroidered motifs that make it unique.
For me, the explanation lies in the origin of the Pangi. Where Kotos were designed to oppress and camouflage a woman's body through multiple layers, the Pangi was a symbol of freedom and festivity from the start.
Pangis were made by Maroon women according to their own ideas and worn for going out. The freedom is recognizable in every Pangi, and even if you don't understand the motifs, the creativity is expressive.
Personally, I've literally gained a beautiful experience. Of course, I'm happy to share this experience in the hope that it will also be valuable to you. If you have any tips or better ideas, I'd love to hear them too.