Barong

The Barong or Barong Tagalog originated in the Philippines during the pre-colonial era. It evolved from the canga, a double-sleeved cotton doublet worn by Filipino natives. Their social status was determined by the color of their doublet, which was red for chiefs and white or black for commoners. It is thought that the Spanish colonizers forced the native Filipinos to design a transparent upper garment with no pockets in order to prevent them from concealing weapons and to distinguish them from the ruling class.