Harmony in Diversity

CEBU, Philippines — An exhibition of traditional Indian, Nepalese, African, Papua New Guinean and Korean clothes took place in Cebu over the weekend.

Staged at the ground floor level of Robinsons Galleria Cebu on November 10 to 12, the exhibit was part of the highlights of Southwestern Univeristy-PHINMA’s second annual “International Students’ Days” celebration.

The three-day exhibit centered on the intricate details of traditional culture-specific clothes like India’s Chaniya Choli, Nepal’s Gunyo Cholo, Africa’s Agbada and more.

It was complemented by a photo exhibit which featured well-composed stills that embody the “harmony in diversity” ideal.

At its core, the exhibit framed SWU-PHINMA’s standing in having one of the biggest international student populations among Cebu’s learning institutions.

Chaniya Choli

The "chaniya choli" is a traditional Indian clothing that's traditionally worn during festivals and celebrations like weddings. The garb is composed of three components, the "chaniya" or "lehenga," the "choli" and the "duppata." One of its components – the "choli" – is widely considered to be a type of traditional daily dress for women; a type of top that’s often paired with a “saree.”

Gunyo Cholo

In Nepal, the "gunyo cholo" is worn by women during coming of age ceremonies. It is traditionally gifted to girls who are about to enter womanhood – worn in celebration of her transformation from being a girl to becoming a woman.

Agbada

The "agbada" is a traditional African/Nigerian outfit that's traditionally worn during weddings and celebrations. It is usually worn with a "sakoto" (a type of trousers) and an inner-wear kaftan-cut top. The dress' origins are from the Western and Northern parts of Nigeria.

Traditionally, the "agbada" is worn only by men, but this has changed in the “new boubou” women’s dress trend which draws inspiration from the aesthetic conventions of the “agbada.”

Hanbok

Korea's "hanbok" is a three-piece outfit traditionally worn during special occasions and celebrations. Composed of the “chima” (skirt), the “baji” (pants) and the “jeogori” (top/jacket), it was considered everyday clothing wear up until about a century ago.

The design convention of the traditional “hanbok” was established during the Goguryeo Kingdom, which dated between 37 BC to 668 AD.

The Bilum Dress

The "bilum dress" hails from the highland areas of Papua New Guinea. It is a type of hand woven garb that is woven as a single body-piece dress. Traditionally woven in striking colors and patterns, colorful variants of the “bilum dress” are highly valued among locals. (FREEMAN)