Over the Christmas holidays, I was provided with the opportunity to go on a trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Besides being able to enjoy the areas great beaches and caves I came across an intriguing fabric, - tree bark cloth. It is made and produced by the Tagbanwa People/Batak Tribe an indigenous group local to the area. The fabric is relatively soft and elastic, and used mainly by the tribe as undergarments. It is also the batak tribes source of income as they sell this material to locals and tourists. Tree bark cloth has an interesting texture and is widely used around Palawan and the rest of the Philippines as table runners, mats, and other textiles for the home. Another interesting fact about this textile is that each piece is completely unique.
The process of harvesting and making tree-bark cloth fascinates me too, because it is what makes this product a perfect example for a sustainable textile. Raw bark is harvested every year by felling however the Tagbanwa people make sure to plant more than what they cut down in order to provide their local ecosystem with a chance to heal and rejuvenate itself.
For more information on the Tagbanwa People click on the link below!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagbanwa_people
The traditional costumes of the Tagbanwa were fashioned from the bark of trees, particularly the "salugin". The preparation of this bark was unique. After being felled, the tree would be cut around the trunk, the outer bark stripped off to expose the inner layer. A mallet would beat the layer, until it is soft to hang loose from the bole. This is washed and dried under the sun. In the past, menfolk wore simple loincloths, supported by a woven rattan waistband called ambalad, while women wore only brief wraparound skirts made from bark. The Tagbanua later adopt some articles of Muslim clothing. At present, while many Tagbanwa still wear their traditional apparel, western-type clothing has found its way among the people.[7]
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