Discover Lewek Weaving in Lake Sebu | Tboli Handloom Traditions

Weaving of Lewek

In Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, the weaving of Lewek is part of the textile tradition of the Tboli people. Lewek refers to a traditional tubular garment worn as part of Tboli attire, particularly by women. Its making reflects the skill, patience, and knowledge of weavers who work with traditional looms to create cloth for everyday life, cultural gatherings, and ceremonial dress.

The weaving process begins with the preparation and arrangement of the warp threads on the loom. The weaver carefully maintains the tension and alignment of the threads while using the shuttle to pass the weft back and forth through the warp. Through this repeated movement, the threads gradually become a continuous piece of cloth.

Traditional handloom weaving requires an intimate understanding of the loom, the materials, measurements, and patterns. In Lake Sebu, weaving knowledge has been passed among generations of Tboli women, with experienced weavers teaching younger generations through observation and practice. Community documentation of handloom weaving in Lake Sebu also records the continued use of traditional looms and the transmission of weaving skills among families and communities.

Lewek is more than a garment. It is part of a larger system of Tboli dress and cultural expression, worn alongside other elements of traditional attire such as the kegal blouse and ulew head covering. The continued practice of Lewek weaving helps sustain knowledge of traditional textile making and keeps these forms of cultural expression connected to contemporary Tboli life.

Through each thread and repeated movement of the loom, the weaver carries forward a practice shaped by place, community, and generations of knowledge. The weaving of Lewek offers a glimpse into the living textile traditions of Lake Sebu and the artistry of the Tboli people.