I’ve always admired local textiles. The colors, designs, and craftsmanship are so uniquely Filipino and eye-catching that it’s tempting to get yards of it and turn it into all sorts of things. I’m on the hunt for new throw pillows and I’m thinking if I should get some featuring flowers and leaves to complement my growing plant collection or those with traditional Filipino designs.
The thing is, it’s not that easy to find them here. Sure, there are shops that sell some textiles but the best way to see the breadth of local talent is to visit the weavers in their provinces. This weekend, you don’t have to travel far because the 9th Likhang HABI Fair will bring them the weavers and their textiles here.
From October 11 to 13, 52 participating merchants from all over the Philippines will showcase sustainable and ethical fashion and other lifestyle products using traditional textiles such as habol negrense from Negros Occidental, yakan from Basilan, inaul from Maguindanao, binubudan from Ifugao, binakol and abel from Ilocos, tepina from Palawan, and many more.
Several merchants will also present contemporary Filipino fabrics such as cotton ikat and cotton abaca, a result of combining pure Philippine cotton with other indigenous fabrics. Promoting the use of pure Philippine cotton is one of the long-term commitments of HABI.
Below are just some of the fabrics you’ll be able to see this weekend at the Likhang HABI Fair at Glorietta 3 Activity Center in Makati City:
There are also activities for guests to experience the craft of weaving. There will be a HABI Craft Corner where visitors can learn the basics of weaving using pure Philippine cotton and other natural local fibers, and create their own woven products. They can participate in the Community Craft Loom and learn modern weaving using different materials, textures, colors, and weaving techniques. There will also be workshops on macramé, the art of knotting.
Other activities include a Baybayin workshop, cultural dance performances, traditional Filipino music from different regions of the country, and Filipino art installations. There will also be a talk on sustainable shoemaking and why it is important to support the local shoemaking industry.
Another highlight of the fair is the awarding of the 2nd Lourdes Montinola Piña Prize, which recognizes exceptional craftsmanship and mastery of the delicate process of turning pineapple threads into works of art.
I thought I would be missing this year’s Likhang HABI because of my trip to Korea. The trip had a few setbacks so my friend and I decided to move it to November. This means I’ll be able to go to the fair and hopefully walk away with beautiful textiles!
This story is in partnership with Likhang HABI Fair. For more information, visit the website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.