Banig
Encyclopedia
A Banig is a handwoven mat usually used in East Asia
and Philippines
for sleeping and sitting. This type of mat was traditionally made in the Philippines
. Although has been more widely used too.
Technically, it is not a textile
. Depending on the region of the Philippines, the mat is made of buri (palm), pandan or sea grass leaves. The leaves are dried, usually dyed, then cut into strips and woven into mats, which may be plain or intricate.
The Samals of Sulu usually make their mats out of buri leaves. Often, dyed strips of buri are woven to produce a design.
Another region in the Philippines which is famous for intricately designed mats is Basey,Samar. Unlike Sulu, the banig in Basey are made up of tikog leaves. The leaves are dyed with different strong colors to make beautiful, colorful and unique designs.
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
and Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
for sleeping and sitting. This type of mat was traditionally made in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Although has been more widely used too.
Technically, it is not a textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
. Depending on the region of the Philippines, the mat is made of buri (palm), pandan or sea grass leaves. The leaves are dried, usually dyed, then cut into strips and woven into mats, which may be plain or intricate.
The Samals of Sulu usually make their mats out of buri leaves. Often, dyed strips of buri are woven to produce a design.
Another region in the Philippines which is famous for intricately designed mats is Basey,Samar. Unlike Sulu, the banig in Basey are made up of tikog leaves. The leaves are dyed with different strong colors to make beautiful, colorful and unique designs.