Enclosed skirt ( malong a andon)

Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, consists of a large landmass and series of smaller islands that cascade across the Sulu Sea towards Malaysia. Its east coast and interior is home to a number of different indigenous people whose textile traditions share technical and material features, including the use of abaca fibre, ikat dying methods and the use of backstrap looms. Although technically similar, the textiles display patterns and motifs designed to meet social or spiritual functions specific to each community. In some cases motifs reflect a deep respect for local flora and fauna and are believed to act as conduits to the divine. Other textiles are designed as ceremonial gifts on occasions such as marriage, or are hung to designate spaces of spiritual importance.

Much of the west coast and archipelagic parts of Mindanao are home to Muslim communities who have strong links with early seafaring Sultanates that resisted Spanish imperialism. They share cultural and religious practises with neighbours in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia and are renowned for their architectural woodcarvings.

The Maranao are one of the Muslim groups of Mindanao. Both men and women wear tubular garments called malong. This type of garment is used in a number of different ways, from skirt to gown to baby carrier, and even sleeping blanket.

The two main types of Maranao tubular garments are the 'malong landap', worn by men and women, and the more complex and decorative 'malong a andon' worn exclusively by women. While the 'malong a andon' is typified by beautiful supplementary weft and ikat designs, the 'malong landap' is characterised by large expanses of 'landap' or ‘pure’ colour interrupted by tapestry bands known as 'langkit'. The 'langkit' that run vertically and horizontally across the 'malong landap' add decoration and serve to join three individually woven pieces of fabric into a skirt. The band that runs vertically down the centre of the 'malong landap' is called the 'lakban'. The two narrower horizontal bands are called 'tobrian'. The geometric designs of the 'langkit' are similar to the curvilinear designs of Maranao woodcarving and, like the woodcarvings, are known as 'okir'.

In this beautiful example of ‘malong a andon’ two ikat bands replace the narrow 'tobiran' that usually run horizontally across the 'malong', while the larger ‘lakban' remains and runs vertically down the centre. On either side of the 'lakban' triangular motifs known as 'tumpul' fan out from the centre. They are woven into the fabric using a supplementary weft technique.