RESEARCH DATA:

An inspired variation of the kinamayan by Patis Tesoro, this wrap-around skirt features an indigo background in plain weave rather than the traditional diamond twill (Pastor-Roces, 1991). The side edges are violet, adding a subtle contrast to the main background. Like most kinamayan skirts, it includes intricate embroidery: human figures (sinan-tao), mountains, and fingernails (sinan-kuko). The latter, combined with mountain motifs, decorates the borders and joineries of the cloth, which can be attributed to the agricultural context of rituals involving the kinamayan. One such example is the allap, an after-harvest ritual conducted to express gratitude to their gods and ancestors for a plentiful harvest (Aquino, 2005). It should be noted that the term kinamayan translates to "hand-made" or "handwoven," alluding to the skirt's hand-embroidered designs derived from the root word kamay (meaning "hand").