Traditional shirt (balukas)

Hanunuo-Mangyan women hand-stitch and hand-embroider the traditional men's open-fronted shirt (balukas). It takes over a week to embroider the intricate pakudos design. Embroidery was traditionally the shortest part of the process as the Hanunuo Mangyans used to plant, harvest, separate, dry, spin, and then weave the cotton fibers. Today, however, the fabric is purchased in the market and then embroidered.

The embroidered pakudos is always of two colors. On a white blouse, it is predominantly red and is highlighted by a fine black or dark blue outline. On a blue blouse, it is also predominantly red but the outline stitchery is white. The design is started from the center with only hand measurements and the warp and weft threads as guide.

Note: Sizes are approximate and based on standard t-shirt sizes. To ensure a good fit, please enter the following measurements (in inches):

• chest
• sleeve length (from top of shoulder down arm)
• total length (from top of shoulder past waist).