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05/17 Feature of the Day:
Get to know more about Pinya fabric!
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
Piña fabric, made from the delicate fibers of pineapple leaves, is considered the most luxurious and traditional textile for Barong Tagalog. Revered for its sheer, lightweight texture and natural sheen, piña is also one of the most labor-intensive fabrics in the world.
Supporting Facts:
Source of Fibers: Piña fibers are extracted from the leaves of the Red Spanish pineapple, a variety cultivated specifically for fiber production.
Red Spanish pineapple
Handweaving Process: The process includes manual scraping, drying, knotting, and weaving. It can take a week to produce just a few yards of cloth, making each piece extremely special.
Cultural Significance: During the Spanish colonial period, piña cloth was a symbol of wealth and status, worn by Filipino nobility and used in traditional attire such as the Barong Tagalog and María Clara gown.
Piña Fiber Extraction Tools
https://philippinefolklifemuseum.org/
Aklan Piña
https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/
Barong Tagalog in Pinya fabric
Modern-Day Artistry: Despite the rise of synthetic fabrics, authentic piña cloth remains in demand for formal occasions and national costumes, with production largely centered in Aklan, Philippines.
Aklan, Philippines
Philippine Information Agency
References:
Muga, J. (2020). Pineapple Silk and Philippine Textiles. Textile Society of America
Castillo, G. (2019). The Legacy of Piña Cloth in Philippine Culture. Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST–PTRI): https://www.ptri.dost.gov.ph/
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