Piña Cloth

Label

The draped fabric is piña cloth, originating from the Philippines. The Spanish introduced the pineapple to the Philippines during their colonization of the Southeast Asian country. The piña cloth was given its Spanish name for its fine pineapple fibers. Red flowers and rounded shapes ornament this textile. Despite its gossamer-like appearance, the lightweight material is durable and stiff.

To make piña cloth, female artisans skillfully extract the fibers by hand. The pineapple leaves are typically scraped with a broken plate, and the thicker fibers are taken to make twine. The finer fibers are then washed, dried, whipped, and wound together into a bun. Piña cloth can be combined with silk, polyester, and other materials to create different fabrics. Today, the material continues to be used for formal wear and is designated for special occasions.

From the 2023 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 115, Connecting Threads and Woven Stories, curated by Caitlyn King '24, Class of 1954 Intern

Exhibition History

A Space for Dialogue 115, Connecting Threads and Woven Stores, Caitlyn King '24, Class of 1954 Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, October 21 - December 16, 2023.

Provenance

Collected by Charles Edmund Griffith (1892-1964) and Susan "Sarah" Hoyt Griffith (1894-1966); given to present collection, 1957.

This record is part of an active database that includes information from historic documentation that may not have been recently reviewed. Information may be inaccurate or incomplete. We also acknowledge some language and imagery may be offensive, violent, or discriminatory. These records reflect the institution’s history or the views of artists or scholars, past and present. Our collections research is ongoing.

We welcome questions, feedback, and suggestions for improvement. Please contact us at: Hood.Collections@dartmouth.edu