The Kalinga Male Costume, the G-String

Just like so many Igorot costumes, the Kalinga male costume is basically only a G-string.

A G-string is a long strip of woven cloth that a male wears around his waist to cover his manhood.

Tying the woven cloth at the waist will ensure that it won’t fall down. There are no upper shirts or clothing for natives.

For women, ethnic beads are used instead.

Nowadays, however, the Kalinga costumes are now modernized with upper thin fabrics as blouses and undershirts for men.

The Kalinga male costume keeps on evolving as more and more folks are exposed to fashion in the cities and towns.

But the Kalinga ethnic costume will always retain its vivacity in color and style.

Kalinga Male Native Costume, Igorot Male Costume

The male Kalinga native costume is very simple. It consists of a woven, long rectangular cloth which could be used to cover the male private organ. There are no upper clothing.

Feathers could be worn as a head dress and beads or “bongol” can add “glamor” to the Kalinga male native costume.

In the olden days, tattoos were worn by proud warriors. The more tattoo a male had, the more prized heads, he had cut off. It is a proud symbol of bravery and courage, in the olden times.

Image credit: Bryan Elevado