#i just rly wanted to draw fem nari in my cultural clothing

[ura-niia]

Narinder in a Maria Clara

History explanation:

— The Maria Clara gown, a traditional dress worn by Filipina women, takes its name from the character in Rizal’s novel. The garment is also known today as the Mestiza Dress because it combines the fashion of Spanish women, introduced during the colonial period, with the baro’t saya, the national dress of the Philippines. Maria Clara herself was also a mestiza character.

Maria Clara is one of the major characters in Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not), one of the most celebrated novels by 19th century Filipino nationalist Jośe Rizal. In the novel, Maria Clara is the only daughter of Capitán Tiago, a rich Filipino landowner during the Spanish colonial occupation of the Philippines. Her beautiful appearance is emphasized several times throughout the novel, as is her kind and pleasant personality.

While the Philippines were occupied by Spain, the Maria Clara gown was worn by mestiza and upper class women as a symbol of status. But when the United States colonized the country, the dress began to be considered less as fashion and more as “traditional” clothing. Today, Filipina women often wear the Maria Clara gown for official events or as a wedding dress.

Although the Maria Clara gown originates from the historic colonization of the Philippines by Spain, it has evolved into one of the most beloved traditional pieces of apparel among Filipina women. It can be said that this tradition grew out of the respect of the people of the Philippines toward Jośe Rizal and admiration for his famous character Maria Clara.