Kusug Tausug solon, top designer collaborate to promote ‘pis syabit’

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A top international Filipina designer Ann Ong is collaborating with a Muslim lawmaker in promoting Sulu’s woven cloth called the “pis syabit” and bring it to The Big Apple - New York City.

Rep. Shernee Tambut, of the Kusug Tausug partylist, said she sought the help of Ong in promoting not only the pis syabit but the Tausug culture as well along with other Philippine designs. 

Tambut explained that the pis syabit is a one-of-a-kind piece of cloth exclusively woven in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region. It is made of cotton or silk, sometimes with metallic gold threads incorporated in the weave.  It used to be worn by Tausug men during very special occasions as a headdress or a decor hung on one’s shoulder to indicate their high social status. 

Kusug Tausug partylist Rep. Shernee Tambut with her pis syabit terno and top photo shows the solon with international Filipina designer Ann Ong in their pis syabit. (Courtesy of Rep. Shernee Tan)

 

In modern times, the pis syabit has been used as the main material or accent for clothes and are sometimes used to make fashion accessories. Being woven by Muslims, it carries only geometrical patterns because Islam forbids reproducing the likeness of living things, whether human, flora or fauna, she further said.

“The meeting was so fruitful and we are all so excited to promote the pis syabit and the Tausug culture to the world. Bringing Pis Siyabit to the world. See you soon New York. In Shaa Allah. Thank you Madame Ann Ong for all your help,” she said.

Tambut said the meeting was also attended by Ong’s husband, Jason, and their son, John, also a designer and digital marketing expert and several others. “We discussed how pis syabit may be promoted first in New York and later in other fashion capitals of the world,” she said.

She also brought samples of pis syabit and gave it to Ong, who said the Sulu cloth has much potential, especially in the international market. Ong’s son also agreed with her.

A Tausug weaver works on her pis syabit. 

“I will never tire of promoting pis syabit and Sulu culture because we want every Filipino to understand the Tausug way of life by being familiar with Sulu’s beautiful and unique culture. Popular acceptance of the cloth is also an effective means of uplifting the economy of the Tausugs,” she said, adding every piece of the colorful and intricately designed pis syabit is an original artwork, so anyone who has a pis syabit adorning his or her clothes is assured of ownership of an original piece of art that evokes the history and artistry of the Tausugs.

“And most importantly, for every pis syabit bought, one family in Sulu is one step closer to getting out of poverty,” Tambut said.

Aside from promoting the pis syabit, Tambut also encouraged Filipinos to promote and buy local products to help small and medium enterprises get back on their business which have been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Noting the proliferation of cheap, but low-quality imported clothes in the market, Tambut said she wants to start a campaign by encouraging Filipinos to patronize locally-produced clothes and help small retailer stores, as well as local designers recover from their losses due to the health crisis.

Kusug Tausug partylist also advocates inclusive and sustainable growth for the most marginalized sectors, particularly the Tausugs and other Muslim Filipino ethnic communities, as well as other under-represented groups such as small farmers and fishermen,  the elderly, unskilled or low-skilled workers and families living below the poverty line. (Mindanao Examiner)