Barong Fabric Selection

This page outlines the fabrics commonly used for Barong Tagalog and their practical differences.
Fabric choice influences weight, transparency, and how the garment maintains its shape in different settings.
Piña Cocoon Silk fabric with soft embroidery, scissors, and tape measure—a blend of tradition, elegance, and tailoring craft

Piña Cocoon Silk Fabric

Fabric: Hand-woven textile made from cocoon silk and pineapple fibers
Ornament: Full hand embroidery or combined hand and machine techniques

Piña Cocoon Silk: Piña Cocoon Silk is a lightweight and breathable fabric woven from cocoon silk and pineapple fibers.
Piña Cocoon Silk contains a higher proportion of silk; in our studio, a finer silk yarn is selected, which contributes to a softer hand.
It has a soft structure and moderate transparency, offering a smoother drape compared to Piña Cocoon.

This fabric is used for formal Barong Tagalog designs where lightness and comfort are required, with flexibility in embroidery placement and proportion adjustments depending on the design.

Note: In our production, Piña Cocoon Silk refers to a handwoven fabric combining cocoon silk with pineapple fibers. Fabric composition may vary in the market.

Close-up of Piña Cocoon fabric with classic embroidery, showcasing natural pineapple fibers and a slightly crisp surface

Piña Cocoon Fabric

Fabric: Hand-woven textile made from cocoon silk and pineapple fibers
Ornament: Machine embroidery, hand embroidery, or combined hand and machine techniques

Piña Cocoon: is a breathable fabric with a firmer structure than Piña Cocoon Silk.
It provides a more defined shape and is selected for Barong designs that require clearer lines and stable form.

Note: In our production, Piña Cocoon is a handwoven fabric with a firmer structure. Commercial versions may differ in fiber composition and weaving method.

Close-up of hand-embroidered Piña fabric with delicate lacework and floral details, showcasing traditional Filipino craft

Pure Piña Fabric

Fabric: Hand-woven Piña (100% pineapple leaf fibers)
Ornament: Fine hand embroidery is most common due to the fabric’s structure

Pure Piña: is a lightweight and breathable fabric woven from pineapple leaf fibers.
Its surface structure allows fine embroidery to remain clearly visible, which is why it is traditionally used for formal Barong Tagalog.

Because of its transparency and delicate construction, this fabric is typically selected for garments intended for formal or ceremonial use rather than frequent wear.

Three Barong Fabrics

Pure Piña is the traditional Filipino textile, woven entirely from pineapple leaf fibers and historically used for Barong Tagalog.

Piña Cocoon and Piña Cocoon Silk are later fabric developments that offer alternative structures suited to different wear conditions and design requirements.

Piña Cocoon has a firmer structure and holds its shape better, while Piña Cocoon Silk contains a higher proportion of silk, making the fabric softer, lighter, and closer in feel to pure piña.

Our base designs are typically produced using Piña Cocoon. Other fabrics may be selected during consultation depending on formality, wear conditions, and design direction.