Jusi, or husi in Filipino, is a delicate Philippine vegetable fiber used in making Barong Tagalog and other dresses. Usually, jusi silk is thinner, more durable, and has a tighter weave than piña silk.
The pineapple plant produces a fine lustrous fiber from which the piña fabric is woven. Another fabric produced from this fiber and in combination of silk, cotton, or abaca is the jusi.
Banana leaf fibers were used to make the first Jusi fabrics in the Philippines. However, in the 1960s, China’s mechanically woven silks became the preferred choice of fabric. Since then, jusi fabrics made from banana leaf fibers were no longer made and jusi was incorporated into China’s silk organza.
Jusi clothing has a traditional and elegant look, yet it is usually cheaper. When touching a jusi fabric, one will see its smoothness and translucency of it compared to other natural fibers.
Ang Jusi o Husi ay isang pinong hibla na kadalasang ginagamit sa paggawa ng mga Barong Tagalog at mga kasuotan.
Ang Pilipinas ay nakilála sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng dahon ng pinyá na pinagmumulan ng himaymay para makagawa ng tela. Mamahalin ang telang hinabi sa himaymay ng pinyá. Isa pang telang likha mula sa himaymay nito ay ang jusi na kombinasyon ng pinyá, seda, cotton, at abaca.
Source: Traveler on Foot. Lumban Embroidery. Retrieved from https://traveleronfoot.wordpress.com/tag/jusi/
Pineapple Industries. Jusi. Retrieved from https://pineappleind.com/collections/jusi
Barong ‘R Us. (March 4, 2020). Knowing your Filipiniana Fabrics. Retrieved from https://barongtagalogstore.com/2020/03/04/knowing-your-filipiniana-fabrics/
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This project is in line with the observance of the 2021 Year of Filipino Pre-Colonial Ancestors (YFPCA), by virtue of Proclamation No. 1128, s. 2021.
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Sa pamamagitan ng Museo ng Muntinlupa at UP College of Home Economics Costume Museum, ang glosaryong ito ay magtatampok ng iba’t ibang kasuotang Pilipino, magmula sa aksesorya ng ulo hanggang sa saplot sa paa.
Art by Andrei Mendiola
Graphics by Xena Cabahug
Research by China Ho, Dan Racca, and Sophia Luces
Text by Angelene Payte
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