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Camisa (blouse)
This blouse is constructed from cloth that has been woven with piña thread which derived from the pineapple plant. Clothing and accessories such as shawls made out of piña were woven in the Philippines as early as the 1500's and have continued into modern day. The pineapple plant is not a native species to the Philippines it is thought to have been introduced by the Spanish. Due to the time consuming nature of the making the cloth it was highly sought after and wearing such a garment was regarded as an illustration of wealth. In order to make the thread, the leaf of the pineapple plant is removed and the spines on the edges are taken off. The leaf is then placed on a flat surface on the ground and held in place by a foot. The first layer of course plant material is then removed from one side and then the other by scraping the leaf. The fine inner fiber is then removed in much the same way. This is what is used to create the piña cloth. The fibers then go through a process where they are beaten, washed, and dried. After they are fully dried the individual fibers are carefully tied together with almost invisible knots to create a long continuous thread. The thread is then ready to be dyed or used for weaving or embroidery. The camisa above was regarded as high fashion. The cut of the blouse with the bell sleeves shows the Spanish/European influence on the design. The piece is a perfect example of both the weaving and embroidery processes.
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