PHILIPPINE SHELL BLOUSE

Woman’s Dagom (blouse) worn by the Kulaman people of southern Mindanao, Philippines. The long sleeve, v neck, black silk blouse is covered with split shell discs sewn in a decorative pattern and trimmed in white cotton stitched geometrically with alternating red and black threads.

The mother of pearl discs are called Kalati and believed to bestow protection on the wearer.