Thanks to social media, you can now discover the roots of Philippine fashion with just a scroll and a swipe.

Clothing has always had a cultural impact. In the Philippines, influenced largely by the tropical climate, pre-colonial settlers donned intricately woven garb and adorned themselves with precious stones. Men wore a loincloth called the bahag and the canga, a type of collarless shirt that would later evolve into the modern-day barong. Accordingly, the women's long wraparound garment became the earliest blueprint of the baro't saya, now considered <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/158138" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Philippines' national costume</a>.&nbsp;

After the Spanish arrived in 1521, Hispanicized versions of the existing silhouettes were common&mdash;through the following three centuries of colonization, the baro&rsquo;t saya, composed of a bodice dubbed the camisa and a floor-length skirt, was the typical everyday dress. The blouse was often made of pi&ntilde;a, a sheer, lustrous traditional Philippine fiber spun from pineapple leaves. This version then became the pattern for turn-of-the-century adaptations like the Traje de Mestiza, popularized during the American occupation (1898-1946) and featuring the glamorous, wide bell sleeves and narrow, trailing skirts (or saya de cola) that mirrored the West's Edwardian fashion. As the decades passed, and World War II drew to a close, young women began donning floral midi dresses and capri pants as daywear, paving the way for today's relaxed, casual styles.
There remains so much to learn. To that end, here, L'Officiel lists down six Instagram accounts where you can get your daily dose of Philippine fashion history.

INSTAGRAM/fashion_plates_

Instagram Accounts To Visit for a Slice of Philippine Fashion History

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES  March 2024- Park Gyu Young 600PHP 

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES February 2024 Digital -James Reid 

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES APRIL 2024-Gulf Kanawut 600PHP

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES HOMMES APRIL 2024- Piolo Pascual 600 PHP

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES HOMMES APRIL 2024- NYMA 600 PHP

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES MAY 2024- BLYTHE 600 PHP

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES June/July 2024- Michelle Marquez Dee 600PHP

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES AUGUST 2024- LIZA SOBERANO 600PHP

L'OFFICIEL HOMMES PHILIPPINES SEPTEMBER 2024- WIN METAWIN 600PHP

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES SEPTEMBER 2024- TRAINING SESSION (COVER 1)  600PHP

Instagram Accounts To Visit for a Slice of Philippine Fashion History

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