Threading feelings

The Davao-based social business Olivia & Diego Upcycled Jewelry (O&D) launched an evening wear line to support September’s World Suicide Prevention Day and this month’s World Mental Health Day. The line is called Embracing Imperfection, and O&D founder Yana Santiago said every necklace and bracelet celebrates strength and resilience for mental health. The collection is produced in partnership with art and mental health repository Silakbo PH. For every purchase, 25 percent goes to Silakbo to further develop creative efforts to destigmatize mental health and create more awareness about it. Silakbo PH believes in art as a medium for catharsis and self-expression. The group uplifts stories of mental health awareness through various media—from poems to paintings, to music and crafts. Santiago, a clothing technology graduate of University of the Philippines Diliman, works with an IP community of women in Davao to create upcycled jewelry made out of fabrics from discarded cotton shirts. “Every time we visit our community, conversations about patience and determination in perfecting each piece come up. Weaving becomes a process and a therapy to safely express their emotions. This is one of the many reasons why we collaborated with Silakbo; we believe in the power of art to heal and inspire healing,” she said. In observance of World Mental Health Day, O&D and Global Shapers Davao Hub (a World Economic Forum-initiated network of young people) mounted an interactive installation in SM Lanang Premier until Oct. 31. The installation, called “How Are You Today?,” invites the public to an introspect through a series of questions and an interactive board that allows a person to “weave” their feelings using colorful thread curated by O&D. The installation also bears mental health hotlines, encouraging people to seek professional care for counseling and other services.