Tapa cloth is a multipurpose cloth typically associated to the Islands of the Pacific. Each island tends to have its own unique way of manufacture, design and use for barkcloths which lends itelf to either everyday or ceremonial use. Tapa is made from local tree bark where it is grown, stripped, and dried. The manufacture of tapa cloth can either be created by beating felting or gluing pieces together with tree gums to create a canvas. After the base layer is complete, patterns are applied onto the top side, and are either stamped, drawn, painted or dyed to create symmetrical designs. A tapa mat is typically painted on one side, and forms part of the outer layer of design for clothing, wall decorations, ceremonial mats or bed covers. Tapa is not very durable in wet weather as it made like paper, and will shrink, disintergrate or warp. Tapa was typically created for everyday functions such as for clothing, but since the introduction of synthetic fibres and cottons, people now favour tapa for decorative purposes, and they still regarded as part of a high value exchange system of goods in ceremonial contexts. A man can measure his wealth through how many tapa mats he has, rather than by his monetary assets.