WHAT IS BARONG?
The Barong Tagalog has a long tradition of more than four centuries.
The look as well as the meaning of the dress have evolved throughout four centuries. The special traditional features remained untouched; the dress is thin and transparent, has decoration and one will wear the barong tagalog 'tucked out'. ‘Baro' means ‘dress’, ‘Barong’ means ‘dress of’ and ‘Baro ng Tagalog’ as ‘dress of Tagalog’.The Baro ng Tagalog, or Barong Tagalog, has evolved from pre-Hispanic native wear to the "Philippines national wear" over the course more than four centuries. Throughout its evolution, various factors have influenced the look and meaning of the Barong Tagalog. As the Philippines' national dress, the Barong Tagalog enjoys a distinction all its own. Its fine needlework or hand-painted designs in cool cotton or handwoven pina or jusi have given it a flair that has won international recognition and acceptance.
Steps in Embroidering the Barong Tagalog
Embroidering the Barong tagalong require simple steps. First, on the embroidery pattern to be used on any given shirt is chalked on the cloth by the worker. Manufacturers have at least a score of such patterns on hand. The second step involves stretching the cloth in a round or rectabhular wooden frame called bastidor and then the tedious work of hand embroidery begins. The length of time each worker spends on one design depends on the intricacies of the embroidery involved. This over, the embroidered pieces are washed, lightly stretched between regular frames to dry. The embroidered clothes are cleaned on their underside with a small washcloth dipped in detergent, then ironed.