Local weavers, personal stories featured in weekend fair

The “love local” movement that started over a decade ago continues to gain ground with Filipinos proud to wear their heart on their sleeve.

Whether it’s a modern barong Tagalog, a beautifully made terno or simply a patch with a distinctly local design, there are now dozens of options for Filipinos to choose from.

From Oct. 9 to 11, Likhang Habi marks its 16th anniversary with a weekend-long market fair. The theme this year is “Worth Every Thread” and is the organizers’ short reply to the million-peso question: Why is it so expensive?

At the press launch for the upcoming event, they talked about how much time and effort went into the weaving, dyeing and stitching of the different products. While traditional artists — painters, sculptors — are known by name, few weavers and craftspeople are recognized and compensated for their creations. This is why there is a move to include the names of the weavers for the pieces that will be sold at the fair.

“For many years, we’ve been asked, ‘Why are weaves so expensive?’ I’m tired of that question,” Habi council president Mia Villa­nueva said. “When you understand what goes into making something by hand, using indigenous fibers and traditional skills, you begin to see why it is worth every thread.”

As in previous years, the fair brings together weavers, weaving communities, artisans, designers and textile entrepreneurs who have taken one of the world’s oldest crafts and infused it with innovation to create pieces that are relevant, timeless and unmistakably Filipino.

One of them is Jeanafer Fernandez of Piña Seda Primera in Aklan who recalled watching as her mother wove the pineapple fibers into fabric, and experienced firsthand how the industry sustained families and provided work for local communities.

Fernandez’s participation in her first Likhang Habi Market Fair in 2017 proved to be a turning point.

“It was where I gained experience and learned to talk to people, especially customers who appreciated the products. I was able to showcase these products while helping artisans, weavers and embroiderers.”

Today, Piña Seda Primera is known for its formal wear made from premium piña and enhanced with embroidery.

Habi’s work with weaving communities extends beyond the annual market fair and into the grassroots. In Catanduanes, the organization has undertaken the Panganiban Weaving Center project as part of its commitment to supporting local weaving initiatives and bringing opportunities to communities beyond the country’s major textile centers.

This year’s Kwentong Kultura (Habi lectures) will include discussions on the issues and opportunities facing weaving communities. By bringing these stories to a wider audience including students, practitioners and entrepreneurs, the talks hope to ensure that weaving traditions remain understood, valued, and carried forward.

The 16th Likhang Habi Market Fair will be held on Oct. 9 to 11 at Space, 5/F One Ayala, Makati.