ʻŌlapa Crop Sweatshirt
Regular price $54.95 Sale price $44.95The crop top sweatshirt is the ultimate comfy counterpart to all your high-waist faves. It’s made from a soft cotton-fleece-poly blend, has a trendy cropped silhouette, a raw hem for a relaxed look, long sleeves, and ribbed cuffs.
Wear this sweatshirt hanging out at home or scrunch the sleeves for added style and take it on-the-go.
- Soft,comfortable sweatshirt fabric.
- 52% airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% poly fleece.
- Raw hem on the bottom for an added relaxed style.
- On-trend cropped silhouette.
- Dropped shoulder.
- Premium artwork by Native Hawaiian designers.
- Custom, trademark graphic.
NATIVE HAWAIIAN DESIGN
The word ʻōlapa is a reference to a Hawaiian hula dancer. Hula is a dance artform that is completely unique to Hawaiʻi. It consisted of an ʻōlapa (hula dancer) visually conveying the meaning or story of a particular oli (chant) or mele (song). ʻŌlapa were critical to the preservation and perpetuation of various traditional stories and lessons.
The ʻōlapa would be complemented by a hoʻopaʻa (memorizer), who would be responsible for chanting or singing and playing a percussion instrument like the ipu heke (gourd drum) to maintain a steady beat for the dancers. Oftentimes the hoʻopaʻa would also be the kumu hula (hula instructor), who would teach the ʻōlapa various hula steps, chants and songs.
While hula dancers are immeasurably graceful in performing their craft, they are incredibly disciplined athletes with the strength and poise comparable to ballet dancers. Wear this design if you support this elegant kanaka maoli cultural artform.