Materials for Pis Syabit

The pis syabit textile is woven by the Tausug tribe from the Sulu Archipelago. As the name implies, the textile is worn by Tausug men as a headcloth (pis) and is easily identifiable with the geometric (syabit) designs it features. Traditionally woven in silk, modern reinterpretations of the tapestry- made on the backstrap loom- also use other fibers like cotton fiber blends.

 

The technique to create the pis syabit is also believed to have been adapted from Chinese textile techniques. However, it is important to emphasize how locals would often take foreign ideas and incorporate it into something uniquely their own. Another example of this would be the geometric patterns that appear like a mandala on the square piece of cloth. The mandala pattern originates from the Hindu culture which the Tausugs could have gained a knowledge of by way of Indian trade textiles.

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Bright colors are also used to enliven the geometric patterns of the pis syabit fabric. Traditionally, the color combinations used on the headcloths could be described as monochromatic with a tendency to use red and purple hues. Recent reinterpretations of the fabric are exploring different color combinations and are no longer limited to monochromatic color schemes.