16/09/2024
PINILI PATADYONG OF ANTIQUE
Have you wondered what is the difference between the patadyong of Antique and Iloilo?
It is the "PINILI" also known as " PINILIAN" . It is a distinct embellishment in Antique patadyong which is absent or not typical in Iloilo patadyong. It is also called the "Sampaguita", that stark white flower shapes in between the plaids.
Patadyong weaving has 6 basic tedious steps, to add PINILI is adding another step, the 7th.
PINILI is a brocade enmbroidery similar to that in Ilocos. It is a complicated process. Having worked with Ilocos handloom textiles for years, theirs is the most complicated brocade in the Philippines. Antique PINILI is a stand alone pattern which pops out in solid color base.
While working on my product development and design for Artisans Village across the country for the forthcoming Manila Fame 2024 this coming October, I rediscovered PINILI of Antique again.
I realized I still have yards of PINILI PATADYONG I been keeping since 2018 when I was commissioned by the Antique Provincial Tourism Office and DTI Antique Province to train designers and artisans in the conversion of patadyong into contemporary wearables- from garments, bags, footwear and costume jewelry.
I chosen to brand the project as PINILI, "the chosen one", with it's counterpart of Antique gastronomy branding it as DAPLI meaning food, viand or eat. Both of which we initiated under my wings.
Pioneering through the project I was able to form, for the first time, a new breed of patadyong artisans designing and selling patadyong until today launching with fashion shows, international marketing, most importantly, the business of manufacturing and selling, a sustainable success now.
There is no sweeter memory than to go back to the PINILI PATADYONG today for me and create a new collection for the international market at Manila Fame Artisans Village.
Looking back, I can only bring further forward the PINILI PATADYONG, famous from Bagtason Village in Bugasong Antique.
Patadyong is local handloom textiles of rich cultural origins in Antique and Iloilo, both neighboring provinces in Panay Island, where Borneans brought with them the art of handloom weaving to locals. There are pattern variants of patadyong which can tell the social status in society.
Further little discovery for me, designing on bamboo, the PINILI is similar in endemic pattern to our BATBAT design in decorative bamboo used in windows and walls in Bahay Kubo houses. The same geometric flower of a Sampaguita is evident.
PINILI PATADYONG from 1945 up to 1980s ( the revival of Philippine crafts propelled off) was a languishing craft until it has become living again much to the transformative processes of design and product development along with technology upgradation and local patronage in the creation of new entrepreneurial narratives.
Iririnaw tatun.
( We are together as one).
