This delicate ta'ovala, decorated with small shells, is an example of the continuing vibrancy and finesse of Tongan textile art. Traditionally plaited from specially prepared pandanus strips or hibiscus bark, ta'ovala is a fine mat worn as a wraparound skirt by both Tongan men and women. In this example, Anna Takai has combined the crochet techniques introduced by Christian Wesleyan missionaries in the early 1800s with traditional hibiscus bark to produce a ta'ovala with a sheer, lace-like quality, for wearing over modern dress.

Woven and crocheted mats, also known as vala, play an important role in the creation and maintenance of Tongan culture. Imbued with the prestige traditionally afforded to their female makers, each vala draws additional power from the bodies of its past and present owners. Many of the most famous vala were made in Samoa and brought to Tonga by Samoan women who married into chiefly lines. In local legend, the tradition of wearing ta'ovala originated with sailors who, on returning from their voyages to face the king, cut the mat sails from their canoes to be appropriately attired. Today, ta'ovala are worn on special ritual occasions and continue to be an important symbol of Tongan cultural heritage and respect. The fineness of the crochet and the soft pale colour of this ta'ovala place it also in the realm of aesthetic objects.