The Tapis of The Kalinga Tribe

TAPIS: WEAVING OF THE KALINGA TRIBE

Woman weaving the Tapis of Kalinga

      Among any culture , clothing and fabrics are very  essential elements  as it firmly recognizes the history and influences of some communities. 

In Central Cordillera art is part of everyday life. From the town of Lubuagan in Kalinga,it 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. Weaving in Kalinga is a tradition that is passed to generations. At the early age of 10, girls begin to weave. Men also participate in making the craft. Numbers of the communities share  techniques and similar motifs and color schemes on the woven products. Kalinga with their wraparound skirt wear by women. This type of wraparound skirt is generally known as “Tapis” in tagalog language and as “Kain” to the Kalinga. Tapis may generally refer to a single rectangular piece of cloth one wraps around oneself as clothing. A costume indigenous from the tribe of Kalinga and Apalayao called Tapis. The people there was so skilled it was because they do it for years. The garment is a woven with back strap body tension looms, embroidered with nature inspired patterns and are sometimes adorned with mother of pearl platelets and shells which represent wealth prestige in the area. Some of the design includes mountains, birds , lakes and stars. Tapis is used as a skirt of the women throughout the Philippines that is usually specifically applies to a colorful skirt. Before the conquest of the Spanish colonizers, the women worn the colorful skirt called Tapis that is the part of the Maria Clara which is still used today and also by culturally conservative tribes.

 Photo by Samuel Manaois on 

yourshot.com

   In Kalinga handwoven fabrics has a geometric patterns. There are different design variations of each namely the "pilakpak'','' ilaglis'', ''silugwid'' and ''gilamat''. The design motifs and symbols are inspired from elements in the environment such as animals, mountains and stars. The garments are worn during rituals, festivals, weddings and other special occasions. This is a rectangular cloth woven with back strap body tension looms, embroidered with nature inspired patterns and is embellished with beads and mother of pearl shells. Shells are attached so to move and reflect light. 

 

   

       The colors and designs have specific meanings.  For instance, the color   Red symbolizes  "Bravery", and the Black-stripe Prints represents ''Earth or the ground''. Yellow is used to embroider "Mountain symbols" because it is the color that symbolizes "Fertility and Wealth". Weavers take care not to make alterations with their designs and choice of colors for their woven products. It is their way of preserving their traditions and culture and also to show the uniqueness of Kalinga’s woven products.

 

      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.

( credits to the rightful owners of the pictures )

References:

https://narrastudio.com/blogs/journal/the-weaving-of-kalingahttps://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/207.2005/#:~:text=This%20type%20of%20wraparound%20skirt,as%20kain%20to%20the%20Kalinga.&text=The%20shells%2C%20which%20were%20an,overall%20design%20of%20the%20skirt.