Image: USAID Measuring Impact Conservation Enterprise Retrospective (Philippines; Kalahan Educational Foundation) (40246611432)

Description: July 2017. T'nalak, aka "Dream Cloth", is a tradition and spirit-infused cloth woven from abaca fibers by the T'boli "Dream Weavers" and represents natural patterns 'seen' by the weavers in their dreams after meditating and praying. T'nalak production is a labour intensive process requiring a knowledge of a range of skills learned from a young age by the women of the tribe. First, abaca fiber is stripped from the abaca tree, cleaned, dried and separated into strands. These strands are then carefully selected, hand tied and rolled into balls. Natural vegetable dyes produced by the T'boli weavers themselves are used to stain these hand spun abaca fibers. The T'nalak is then woven, usually in tones of red, brown and black, with the end product requiring months of work to produce a single, unique weaving. The T'boli are an indigenous peoples of South Cotabato in Southern Mindanao. The Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Program (NTFP) advocates for and supports indigenous enterprises using non-timber forest resources. The Manila showroom features fairly-traded value-added products from across the Philippines. Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Photograph by Jason Houston for USAID
Title: USAID Measuring Impact Conservation Enterprise Retrospective (Philippines; Kalahan Educational Foundation) (40246611432)
Credit: USAID Measuring Impact Conservation Enterprise Retrospective (Philippines; Kalahan Educational Foundation)
Author: USAID Biodiversity & Forestry
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No