Answer:
For several centuries, during the colonial period, the Philippines has been severely immersed in foreign influences particularly by Spain and America. During the Pre-Spanish colonization, the Filipino people were dressed up only with collarless shirts called “canga” and wraps known as “bahag” for their bottoms. However once the Spaniards came to the country, modifications were made on the Filipino fashion sense. What is now known as the Barong Tagalog is the result of the evolution of the “canga”. Laces, trimmings and adornments and collars were added to the simple collarless shirt. Embroidery and buttons also became apparent on the “canga”. While the “bahag” was then replaced with trousers. This is also the same for the female costume counterpart of the Barong Tagalog, the Baro’t Saya.
After the Spaniards, the Americans were the next most influential factor in the evolution of the true Filipino style. Since the Barong Tagalog and Baro’t Saya were not practical to wear on a tropical country like the Philippines. The Filipino people opted to follow the American style of comfort. Thus, departing from the glamorous and voluminous ilhouette of the Spanish. Layers and embroidery were lessened and the kinds of fabrics used were more comfortable like pure cotton. (Te, 2007). Because of these colonizations, the true Filipino fashion style ceased to exist. Now, at present the Filipino people are still struggling to establish their own fashion identity. There is no distinct Filipino fashion style since we are mainly dictated by foreign influences that dominates the fashion world; similarly the pioneers of Philippine fashion industry are also subjected to the same international influence.
