Final 2

T’nalak Fabric: Product of the Dream Weavers
T’nalak is the famous hemp fabric uniquely crafted and weaved by the selected women
of T’boli tribes. Most of its designs were originated from a dream, a gift by the spirit of hemp
which is believed to be their ancestors and the women were identified as the ‘dream weavers’.
T’nalak a deep brown abaca-based clothtile-dyed with indricate designs, and is produced
by T’boli women in Mindanao, and one of the best known cultural products of the Philippines. It
is usually woven in tones of red, brown, and black – natural vegetable dyes produced by T’boli
weavers themselves, each unique end product recquires months of work and knowledge of a
range of skills learned from young age by the women of the tribe. It is a labour intensive process
where abaca fiber is stripped from the abaca tree; cleaned, dried, and separated into strands
carefully selected hand tied and rolled into balls.
According to their tradition it has been passed down through generations and come the
best weaves in dreams brought by their ancestors. T’boli people are believed that one should