RESEARCH DATA:

This jacket or blouse-like garment from the collection is an upper garment for Kalinga men and women. It is woven on a white cotton background using a plain weave technique, and is embellished with multiple checkered patterns in supplementary weft near the armholes, sleeve ends, and bottom edges. Joineries on the arms and back were made by stitching and embroidery, featuring checkered and triangular motifs in vibrant red, yellow, and indigo. This use of bright and intense colors such as red and yellow, particularly red, is a traditional weaving preference among the Kalinga and Ga’dang peoples; however, this trend tends to weaken in areas from Abra and southwards to Bontoc (Pastor-Roces, 1991). The garment has no collar but includes a crew-neck-style lining that extends into a thin cord thread, which serves as a front tie closure. Additionally, several slits at the bottom edges of the blouse provide fitting allowances for the wearer.