ORIGIN

The Barong Tagalog traces its roots to the Tagalog word baro, meaning “shirt,” which was traditionally worn by both men and women prior to Spanish colonization. These early garments were often paired with salaual (trousers), tapis (overskirts for women), robes, and belts; reflecting a functional yet expressive style shaped by local customs and trade influences from neighboring Asian cultures.

During the Spanish colonial era, the baro evolved from everyday working-class attire into what we now recognize as the Barong Tagalog, a translucent, untucked garment that colonizers imposed as a way to distinguish the native population from the elite and prevent the concealment of weapons. Over time, this shirt of resistance transformed into a symbol of Filipino pride and dignity, today revered as the "Philippine tuxedo" and worn to honor both heritage and history.

OUR BARO HISTORY

The Barong Tagalog is timeless and a symbol of pride, resistance, and heritage. It's 100% OURS, but let's be real: the traditional Barong is mostly reserved for formal events. Rocking one to the grocery store? On a third date? Or with shorts? (Okay, some legends can pull it off.)

We wanted more.  We wanted to take the spirit of the Barong, the legacy, the history, the craftsmanship and make it wearable anywhere, every day. We wanted to blend tradition with the rhythm of modern life without losing its soul.

So we created the Baro.  A modern day silhouette infused with our KNOW HISTORY DNA. Clean. Versatile. Unapologetically Filipino.

Over the years, each Baro has become a canvas for storytelling. A way to honor the people, places, and moments that helped shape who we are.

And now, we're proud to introduce the next evolution in the Baro family.  The Delano.

"Tradition carried forward. Heritage reimagined."

THE DELANO INSPIRATION

Not all revolutions begin in government buildings.  Some begin in the fields.  Some begin under the California sun.  Some begin with workers who simply decide they have had enough.

In the early 1960s, thousands of Filipino farm workers labored throughout California's agricultural valleys. They harvested crops that fed the nation while enduring poverty wages, difficult living conditions, discrimination, and little protection from exploitation.

Many of these workers were Filipino immigrants known as the manongs, a generation of laborers who left the Philippines searching for opportunity but instead found themselves performing some of the hardest work in America.

They picked grapes.  They harvested crops.  They built communities.  Yet many struggled to earn a living wage.

SEPTEMBER 8, 1965

The spark came in Delano, California.  On September 8, 1965, members of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), led by Filipino labor leader Larry Itliong, voted to strike against grape growers in Delano.

Their demands were simple.  Fair wages.  Better working conditions.  RESPECT. 

At the time, farm workers earned wages that made it nearly impossible to support themselves and their families. They worked long hours in difficult conditions while growers profited from their labor.  Rather than accept the status quo, the workers walked out.

The strike began with Filipino workers.  Not hundreds.  Not dozens.  Thousands.  It was one of the most significant labor actions in American history.

"Larry Itliong, one of the principal architects of the Delano Grape Strike."

LARRY ITLIONG

For decades, Larry Itliong's story remained largely untold.

Born in the Philippines in 1913, Itliong immigrated to the United States as a teenager and spent much of his life organizing workers throughout the West Coast.  He understood firsthand the hardships faced by immigrant laborers.  He believed workers deserved dignity.  He believed they deserved a voice.

Most importantly, he believed change would only come through collective action.

When Filipino workers voted to strike in Delano, Itliong recognized that success would require solidarity beyond a single community.

He reached out to Cesar Chavez (another topic on all on its own) and Dolores Huerta of the National Farm Workers Association.

Together, Filipino and Mexican workers united.  What began as a Filipino-led strike became a movement.

"Unity across communities helped transform a strike into a movement."

MORE THAN GRAPES

The Delano Grape Strike lasted five years.  Five years of sacrifice.  Five years of organizing. Five years of boycotts, marches, negotiations, and perseverance.

The movement attracted national attention and eventually pressured growers to negotiate contracts that improved wages and working conditions for farm workers.

But the victory was about more than grapes.  It was about dignity.  It was about visibility.  It was about proving that ordinary people could stand together and change history.

The impact of Delano continues to be felt today throughout labor movements across America.

"Workers marching for dignity, equality, and justice."

THE DELANO BARO

The Delano Baro is our tribute to those workers.  Built upon our modern Baro silhouette, the Delano features a contemporary flannel plaid construction paired with custom embroidery inspired by Philippine agricultural life.

The embroidery tells the story of the Filipino farmer.

• The carabao.
• The rice terraces.
• The nipa hut.
• The rooster.
• The banana tree.
• The land.
• The people.
• The traditions carried across oceans and generations.
• Every stitch honors those who worked the fields before us.
  

Those who sacrificed so future generations could have opportunities they never did.  Those who fought not only for themselves, but for those who would come after them.

THE DETAILS

Historically, barongs during the Spanish Colonial Period (18th–19th centuries) were worn longer, often reaching mid-thigh, with hems that were straight or slightly curved and traditionally left untucked. Your Delano silhouette nods to these roots while updating the cut for modern wear. The mandarin collar adds a distinctly Filipino-Asian identity representing both cultural pride and contemporary elegance.

• Modern flannel plaid construction
• Black/gray and Green/black colorways
• Mandarin collar
• Four-button placket
• Long sleeves
• Scoop hem silhouette
• Full front embroidery featuring Philippine agricultural motifs
• Custom woven inside neck label
• Custom woven book label
• Modern Baro fit designed for everyday wear

The Delano is designed in the U.S. and manufactured by the great folks of the Philippines. We could have easily manufactured The Delano at fraction of the cost in China, but this directly goes to our people!  We even visited our manufacturer in the Philippines to ensure proper working conditions with no child labor and fare wages.

SIZING

Your Delano is a modern fit and is true to size, but to ensure you get the correct fit, please reference our size breakdown for accurate purchase. Ladies size down.

YOUR DELANO BARO

And who better to wear The Delano?!  Long before it was cool for brands to put their Lolo in front of the camera, there was Pops.

For years, Pops was one of the faces of PNOY App/Kampeon.  Not because he was a model.  Not because it was trendy, but because he represented something real.  He was the bridge between our youth and our Ancestors.  And you all LOVED him for that.

Looking back, we can only imagine the kind of hype he'd get today. Before social media celebrated authenticity, before brands discovered grandparents as models, Pops was already showing up and representing our story.

But what makes the Delano different is that Pops isn't just modeling the garment.

He's lived it.

Before coming to America, Pops worked as a farmer in the Philippines. Later, he continued agricultural work in Guam. He knew what it meant to work under a relentless sun. He knew what it meant to earn little while giving everything. He knew what it felt like to be overlooked, disrespected, and taken advantage of.

He understood the dignity of labor because he lived it.

While Pops was not part of the Delano Grape Strike itself, he shared a connection with the very people who inspired it. The same generation. The same sacrifices. The same calloused hands. The same belief that hard work could create a better future for the next generation.

Who better to represent a garment honoring Filipino farm workers than someone who walked a similar path?

The Delano isn't simply inspired by history.  It's inspired by our history.  The story of our fathers. Our grandfathers.  The workers who left everything behind so their families could have opportunities they never had.

That story lives in Pops.  This is Ancestor Made.