MALONG

Maranao women wear the malong. It is a long wraparound skirt.

Besides being an article of clothing, the malong can also serve as a blanket, a hammock, a sling for a baby, and even a dressing room.

The malong is woven as a long straight piece. Since the Maranao love color, the malong comes in rainbow hues. But yellow is special. Only the royal ladies may year the yellow malong.

The favorite color is a deep red, almost going into purple.

The sipmlest malong has checkered designs that are woven in.

The dressiest malong has specially woven strips down the front and the hem. The woven strip is called langkit.

The langkit is made like a tapestry with darts and squares of colors going to make the designs. By tradition, the Maranao women use only these lines and sharp-edged shapes, never curves and circles, in their work.

They create designs with lovely names and meanings: the branch of happiness, peacock’s feathers, layers of heaven, and makebelieve moon.

For everyday wear, more and more Maranao women are using malong from store-bought materials. But on holidays and special ceremonies, they like to wear their handwoven malong. Especially during weddings, the Maranao women bring out the best malong they own and some of these were made for and handed down by their mothers.