THREAD
“Kailangan may papalit
sa amin. Ayaw ng
kabataan na gawin ito
kasi mahirap. Kailangan
nila ma-experience
kung gaano kahirap
mag habi. Sa kabataan,
pag-aralan ninyo
ang abel. Kaya kayo
nakapag-aral dahil sa
negosyo ng abel.
Building a culture of sustainability and appreciation of
handcraft doesn’t happen overnight, or through trends—
it has to be worked on everyday. The responsibility lies
on each one of us to work with communities, write
about them, use the abel and share them with others.
There must be accountability, respect and
transparency. You must honor the culture. Just because
it’s beautiful and deemed cultural doesn’t mean it
should be used. Do your part in conducting research
and utilizing context, and that’s what will help you
distinguish appreciation from appropriation. The fine
line between appreciation and appropriation is in the
way that the craft is used, how it is marketed and what
goes back to the artisans/community.
What’s next for Locano?
Locano is a work in progress. We will find more
stories to tell. It will probably go through the same
chapters and phases in life that I will go through. It’s
exciting and uncertain but all worthwhile.
I hope to discover and share more designs and
functionalities of the abel, and how it can be assimilated in
a modern way of life. I want to continue
to tread the path to sustainability. There
really is an opportunity to sustain the art
of weaving and I think it’s about time
we use technology as a strategic partner
in building a new blueprint for the
future generations to use.
My big audacious goal for Locano is
for everyone to relate to it in their own
way. I hope to hear people say, “‘Yan
ba yung nasa Vigan? Meron din kami
sa bahay, pang-regalo ko ‘yan, lagi kong
gamit ‘yan.”
I want Locano to continue to create
feelings and memories.
See more of Locano’s sweet weaves
at locano.ph and on Instagram
@locano.ph. Follow Cesca’s work on
ladieswinedesign.com/manila.
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