Blaan Tabih Indigenous Textile Designs
Mabal is the Blaan term for the abaca weaving process. Tabih is the term for the finished hand woven cloth and it also refers to the traditional Blaan tubular skirt. Natural dyes from endemic plant species in the community are the source of colors for different designs of this indigenous textile. Price varies for each Tabih Design and also by size.
"Blaan Tabih: reserve dyeing (warp – ikat); Weaving (plain); Accessorizing (applique, embroidery, added objects and braiding/twining). The Blaan Tabih is a reserve-dyed plain woven abaca." - Marian Pastor Roces, Sinaunang HABI Philippine Ancestral Weave
"Blaan Tabih: reserve dyeing (warp – ikat); Weaving (plain); Accessorizing (applique, embroidery, added objects and braiding/twining). The Blaan Tabih is a reserve-dyed plain woven abaca." - Marian Pastor Roces, Sinaunang HABI Philippine Ancestral Weave
Saul Blaan (Traditional Clothing for Male and Female)
Saul is a generic term for traditional clothing or a dress. Libon is female in Blaan and Lagi is the male counterpart.
Blaan Female costume (Saul Libon): Albong Ansif (cross-stitched embroidery), Albong Sanlah (beaded embroidery),
and Albong Takmon (mother of pearl embroidery). Traditional skirt should be the Blaan Tabih but given the difficulty to find one, most Blaans use the Maguindano Textile (Malong) called as Gintlo by the Blaans.
Blaan Male Traditional Clothing (Saul Lagi): Saul (Upper Garment), Salwal (Pants/Trousers) embroidered on Blaan Tabih designs or more commonly done now in commercially available cotton clothing material
Blaan Female costume (Saul Libon): Albong Ansif (cross-stitched embroidery), Albong Sanlah (beaded embroidery),
and Albong Takmon (mother of pearl embroidery). Traditional skirt should be the Blaan Tabih but given the difficulty to find one, most Blaans use the Maguindano Textile (Malong) called as Gintlo by the Blaans.
Blaan Male Traditional Clothing (Saul Lagi): Saul (Upper Garment), Salwal (Pants/Trousers) embroidered on Blaan Tabih designs or more commonly done now in commercially available cotton clothing material