TAPIS: Weaving of the Kalinga

    Clothing and fabrics are essential elements of any culture. It recognizes the history and influences of some communities. A thousand years ago, the people learned to weave. 

    Kalinga province is one of the many places in the Philippines where the practice of traditional backstrap loom weave has not only survived but prospered. Kalinga weavers make handmade fabrics for a variety of uses, from traditional fabrics for clothing and ritual use to commercial fabrics intended for home decoration, souvenirs, bags, and accessories.

    The main weaving center in Kalinga is the village of Mabilong in the town of Lubuagan. Mabilong weavers are known for their backstrap weaving techniques, which they pass on to their daughters once the loom is enabled. But weaving is not just for women - male family members are also involved in the activity.

    When the women finished weaving a fabric, the men came in and sewed the designs. The motif and symbol designs are inspired by environmental elements, such as birds and other animals, mountains, and stars.

    The Kalinga weaves are characterized by a traditional color combinations of red and black stripes and the use of the beads. Many traditional Kalinga weaving designs and patterns remain unchanged for generations, with weavers taking care not to make changes because colors and details have a definite meaning. Red, for example, symbolizes courage while black represents the ground. Mountain symbols are embroidered with yellow, a color that is also symbolizes wealth and fertility.

    In Kalinga handwoven fabrics has a geometric patterns. There are different design variations of each, such as pilakpak, silugwid, ilaglis, and gilamat for the skirt and kilayao, sillayuti, and pilagpagen for the g-strings. This garments are worn during the festival, rituals and other special occassions.

    Kalinga weavers have also begun to incorporate new designs and color combinations into their fabrics while maintaining their Kalinga character. From these fabrics, they make handmade clothing that anyone can wear every day, such as blouses and jackets. They also make home decorations and accessories such as table runners, placemats, bags, and purses, and more. These design innovations allow Kalinga to share their cultural heritage with many people while allowing them to preserve their sacred weaving tradition for generations to come.