PUGAY
Tagalog. noun. definition: a salute, a tribute and or a goodbye.
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this past May 2020, I wanted to create a photo series that celebrates the history and beauty of traditional Filipino clothing with a modern and fashion forward twist.
PUGAY is a three part photo series exploring the amalgamation of contemporary clothing with traditional Filipino garments.
Art Direction by Lo Feliciani Ojeda
Photography by Conor Murdock
THE TANGKULO
A TANGKULO is a triangular cloth traditionally worn as headscarves by southern Mindanao warriors and tribe leaders called “Datus.”
Filipinos today have transitioned to a more contemporary use of the Tangkulo, wearing it around their necks. Every step of making this garment is all by hand; from hand looming the fabric, to hand dyeing it to give its rich color and then lastly to embellishing it with intricate beads and pompoms. With this garment being historically worn by tribe warriors and chiefs, wearing a Tangkulo signifies strength, power and pride as it honors all of those in power who came before you.
THE PASIKING
A PASIKING is a basket backpack handwoven by various indigenous tribes of the northern region of Luzon in the Philippines.
The Pasiking was traditionally used by native hunters as backpacks during their numerous travels to the mountains. To this day the Pasiking symbolizes the ingenuity and beauty of traditional Philippine basketry.
THE MALONG
The Malong is a traditional Filipino cloth primarily used by tribes in the southern mainland region of Mindanao, along with its neighboring islands.
The Malong is considered a garment that's considered to be with it's sole owner from “life to death” as it is traditionally used to swaddle them in the time of their infancy and then used again after as their burial cloth.