From Pineapple to Pañuelo
Philippine Textiles
December 7, 2024 - August 24, 2025
Introduction
In the 1800s and early 1900s, semitransparent textiles known as piña (made from pineapple leaf fibers) and abacá (woven from banana plant fibers) were particularly prized by elite Filipinos, later becoming popular souvenirs for European and American ethnographers and tourists. These lightweight fabrics, made into garments and accessories and then lavishly embroidered, are ideal for the hot, humid climate of the Philippines. This exhibition presents a selection of piña and abacá works from the RISD Museum’s collection, highlighting the complex production and high level of skill found in their weaving and embroidering.
Guest curated by Angela Hermano Crenshaw.
Kate Irvin, curator and head of costume & textiles
