Traditional Maranao Weaving:
- The langkit is a strip of multi-colored fabric woven by skilled artisans known as pagaulen using the backstrap weaving technique.
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It serves as a binding element in Maranao textiles, connecting pieces of cloth together.
- Okir designs, characterized by intricate abstract patterns inspired by flora and fauna, adorn langkit textiles.
- These textiles are part of the Maranao’s rich cultural heritage and are woven with care and precision.
Functional and Aesthetic Uses:
- Accessory: Langkit can be used as an accessory on its own. People wear it as necklaces, straps, or even create bookmarks from it.
- Household Items: Langkit strips also find use as table runners or other decorative elements in homes.
- - Malong Enhancement: When sewn into a malong (a traditional tube skirt), langkit joins the pieces of cloth together, enhancing the malong’s appearance.
Cultural Significance:
- The Maranao people, the largest Islamic ethnolinguistic group in the Philippines, reside around Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur province.
- Despite conflicts and displacement, their weaving traditions, including langkit, continue to endure.
Langkit reflects the vibrancy, sophistication, and artistry of Maranao craftsmanship, connecting communities through fabric and design.
