T'nalak Journey Continued

See T'nalak Journey Part 1

T'nalak: A Journey into T'boli Dreamland.

Weavers' Stories: Lang Kambay Dulay (Mindanao, Philippines) from Fowler Museum on Vimeo.
I have recently decided to sew using an indigenous textile from the T’boli tribe of South Cotabato. The T’boli (whose members are estimated at 100-150 thousand) is one of few remaining tribes in the Philippines that have kept their cultural heritage intact and have suffered greatly because of it. Urbanization has forced most tribe members into poverty. So much so, that one-meal-a day is a treat for some. Sadly, many have sold family heirlooms for food. Few can afford to send children to school.

In the face of this difficulty, the T’bolis have returned quite literally, to "the ties that bind" in their centuries-old tradition of weaving the cloth they call T'nalak.

From Gida Ofong, member of the T’boli and currently promoting this unique textile internationally:

The T’nalak fabric holds a special and prominent place in T’boli culture. It is ever present in significant turning points in a Tboli life, such as birth, marriage, and death. It is the medium which sanctifies these rites, enveloping them in the length of its fabric like a benediction. It has also often been referred to as “woven dreams”. It is exactly that, and more. In a culture which didn’t have a form of writing, the T’nalak served as both Literature and Art. The T’bolis expressed everything they are in the T’nalak: their dreams, beliefs, myths and even their religion. Making use of the various geometrical patterns and the trademark red, black and white colors, the T’bolis weave the natural and the supernatural in the abaca strands of the T’nalak.

I would like promote the use of the T’nalak through my textile work in America as I plan to make bags, and handicraft items from T’nalak as Christmas gifts. I hope to pique interest through these gifts and this post and hope to get more people to buy T’nalak cloth as a way of giving the T’boli a sustainable livelihood.

This T'nalak clutch went for $268 and sold out at Anthropologie.com

To learn more about the roughly 90-day process of creating T’nalak and the T’boli tribe comment/email me for a PDF primer.

The Fowler Museum of UCLA did an exhibit of Philippine Ikat in its collection some time ago. Gida Ofong, who has granted me permission to use her content on this website is the granddaughter of the artist weaver featured in the Fowler Museum’s video above.

Finally, click here, if you would like to purchase Fair Trade T'nalak