Weaving for a circular mindset
ASIDE from providing a source of sustainable livelihood, the communities of Philippine weavers showcase the richness of our Indigenous culture and encourage its audience to understand the multitude of human stories behind every craft.
The ReSTORYation: Weaving Creators, Communities and Connections exhibit, currently ongoing at the University of the Philippines College of Home Economics (UP CHE) Museum in Diliman, Quezon City, calls for a shift toward a circular perspective. It aims to increase the consciousness of interconnectedness, compelling the co-creation of a regenerative future.
A partnership between the British Council (BC) and the Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), it showcases the works of grantees who participated in the 2022 Woven Networks Scoping Grant.
“By involving everyone in the conversation, we learn from each other,” said Mich Dulce, BC head of arts.
Established in 2021, the Woven Networks Scoping Grants initiate collaborations and support projects promoting Indigenous knowledge systems toward sustainable resource management and the improved livelihood of craft communities.
Grantees worked with various stakeholders in the FFP’s focal landscapes. They explored opportunities for the weavers, appreciating their craft and how they source their materials in the forest while finding ways to support their work sustainably.
The Woven Networks supported grantees who worked across different islands including Isabela, Bukidnon, Samar, Leyte and Palawan.
ReSTORYation’s variety of works showcases the expertise of each of the grantees’ partner communities.
For example, woven by Isabela’s Indigenous Enabel Craft and FFP grantee Panublix, the cotton fabrics on display tell the journey of the bamboo, from plant to woven textile.
FFP collaborated with Merryn Chilcott of BAM, the Britishdesigned sustainable bamboo activewear brand, which has undertaken pivotal steps in producing bamboo clothing in the United Kingdom.
Creativity and resilience
Visitors are encouraged to feel the texture of the handwoven textiles and provide feedback online. The BC said that “each creation speaks of the creativity, ingenuity and
resilienc[y] of the human spirit and the people’s connection to the land and the world.”
Grantee Emmanuelle Andaya worked with the Kalandang Higaonon Weavers, also called Peace Weavers, in Bukidnon, where weaves are traditionally given as peace offerings during tribal and personal conflicts. The Peace Weavers highlight the stories behind their work, from harvesting the resources from forests to the intricate passing down of their tradition throughout generations.
From Samar and Leyte, woven products, in collaboration with British-Filipino designer Diana Auria, are on display; they were crafted not just by artisans but Super Typhoon “Yolanda” survivors and community leaders. A short documentary commemorates the superstorm’s 10th anniversary and the stories of the people’s resilience.
Carmen Lopez, chief empowerment officer of HerStore Asia, said the exhibit highlighted their “hope, resilience and creativity.”
From Aborlan, Palawan, LifeCollege Inc., along with British collaborators and weavers, created DIY (do-it-yourself) weaving kits for visitors to create their handcrafted coasters.
Grantees will soon roll out educational programs to support further learning for artists and enthusiasts.
According to Dulce, tapping all the relevant stakeholders, including forest-dependent craft communities, designers, social entrepreneurs, leaders and the academe will “create a wealth of information that can help propel the project and its people further.”
BC is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. FFP is a nonprofit organization providing grants and technical assistance to individuals and organizations that protect and conserve forests.
ReSTORYation will run until March 11 at the University of the Philippines College of Home Economics (UP CHE) Museum in Diliman, Quezon City. HerStore will be hosting a webinar on Conversation on Conservation and Craftsmanship on February 8, while Nola Andaya will have a walkthrough at the CHE Museum Exhibit Hall on February 9.