Local crafts and designs continue to flourish and reach wider audience thanks to many Filipino artisans and creators that keep traditional Philippine arts sustained and updated.
Local products retailer Kultura Filipino has recently brought together artisans behind some of the amazing products it carries to talk about how culture and communities come together in their creations, as well as how these products provide a livelihood for families as far north as Abra and as far south as South Cotabato.
Beyond Borders aims to continue the Inabel tradition through their stylish inabel blankets, covers, towels, and napkins. Their items are handwoven using antique wooden looms and a weaving technique that is handed down through generations.
Through its livelihood program, Beyond Borders aims to see more women return to the loom and for them to see the value of preserving the intricate craft that has long been with their families.
Meanwhile, Gifts That Give Back promotes two social advocacies: environmental awareness and economic empowerment for the artisan women of Tondo. The stylish handbags and accessories of GTGB are made of recycled and donated pull tabs as well as threads, cords, and strings.
Invisible Sisters works with poor women producing fashion products from plastic waste—plastic, metal wires, and scrap cloth—through handcraft production techniques. The name “Invisible” refers to their use of waste materials kept from landfills and waterways, reducing solid waste pollution, and from the participation of poor urban women who are unable to participate in the formal economy.
EN Barong Filipino has, for more than 50 years, devoted meticulous attention and respect to the national attire, and elevated the design and creation of the barong to an art form. While paying homage to the proud national history that gave birth to such a delicate and distinctive attire, the social enterprise continues to find new expressions that keep barong fresh, current, and unique.
The first locally assembled Filipino watch brand, Ibarra was established with the inspiration and passion for the art of watchmaking and the dream to rekindle the Filipino heritage of time-keeping. Skilled Filipino technicians assemble Ibarra watches using world class materials manufactured and sourced from the best.
Gifts & Graces products, made by hand and made with heart, are beautifully and thoughtfully designed by artisans using traditional techniques, upcycled products, and are crafted by Filipino women from various communities around the country.
G&G works with communities as far north as the Tinguian Tribe of Abra and as far south as the Klowil-T’boli tribe of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, as well as persons with disability, individuals with special needs, urban poor, underserved rural communities, women at the correctional, men in prison, and former members of NPA.
Finally, Tumandok Crafts Industries is a social enterprise of Philippine handicrafts based in Bago City, Negros Occidental which uses raw materials found in nature: banana bark, bamboo, capiz shells, and saddle oyster shells, which are then transformed into sophisticated home furniture and accessories. Each product is a work of art and love, painstakingly handmade by skilled artisans providing sustainable livelihood and alternative source of income by utilizing their natural creative skills.
Go to www.kulturafilipino.com to know more about these social enterprises.
