HABI: The Philippine Textile Council goes green and embraces
sustainability in its upcoming 14th annual market fair this October.
The non-government organization that aims to preserve, protect, and
enhance local textiles is highlighting the potential of natural dyes for
a sustainable and eco-friendly fashion.
ICYMI: Filipino textiles, local weaving showcased at Likhang Habi Market Fair in Makati
With this year’s theme, “Earth To Loom: Celebrating Natural Dyes in
Philippine Textiles”, HABI is putting the importance of sustainability
to the forefront and encourages artisans and vendors to be
environmentally conscious by creating and selling products that are dyed
with plant-based colors.
HABI president emeritus Adelaida Lim shared that this year’s theme presents the use of natural dyes in textiles not just to preserve traditional practices but also an answer to lessen pollution and reduce environmental impact.
“First of all, mawawala ’yan. The practice is getting lost. And then we
also noticed with regards to the environment, this is the thing that is
needed to reduce pollution,” Lim told Good News Pilipinas during the
Likhang Habi media launch on September 18, 2024, in Makati City.
“What happens is when you use synthetic dyes, it worsens the rivers. It
doesn’t disappear, [it] never absorbs by the environment, so you’re
creating something that is harmful to the environment,” Lim stressed.
“Yu’n pala, our ancestors, our ninuno knew about these things already.
That’s why we want to bring it forward.”
Lim said she hopes that this initiative will spark an appreciation for the old
art and tradition from the artisans themselves, the consumers, and the
public, most especially the younger generation.
“They stop doing it, or we don’t appreciate that they have been doing
this and they know this for the longest time. That knowledge has to be
shared,” she gladly said.
“What I want is to see the interest grow so that they open up to this…
Kasi actually, we say it’s old [practice]. They’ve been doing that for
years and years. But ask the young person in the street nowadays. Do
they know of those things?” the heritage and culture advocate asked.
“If somebody picks it up and then takes it further, that’s what would
make me happy. That is what, for me, is worth the effort,” she
concluded.
The 14th Likhang Habi Market Fair is scheduled for October 18 to 20, 2024 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City. The event is expected to gather hundreds of weavers, artisans, designers, entrepreneurs, and brands from all over the Philippines, in a showcase of men’s and ladies’ fashion, footwear, accessories, home decor, artifacts, and collectibles.
Furthermore, the fair will have an exhibition of entries to the 7th
Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition, and the 3rd Eloisa Hizon-Gomez Abaca Weaving Competition. The pina and abaca textile competition winners will be announced on October 19 and 20,
respectively.
It can be recalled that in 2019, the Department of Science and
Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) opened
the country’s first natural dyeing facility in Batangas to help serve
the requirements of the producers of textiles and handicrafts in the
country.
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