How did your brand start and what inspired you to begin its journey?
So my brand started because I was so inspired by the batik fashion in Indonesia. So in Indonesia, they have what's called batik Fridays instead of casual Fridays. So government offices as well as private companies would require their employees to wear batik every Friday. So since seeing that, I've been inspired and it has become my dream for Philippine fabrics to be just as common and prevalent in our country.
What do you find most fulfilling about being an owner of a local business?
What I find most fulfilling is that I can create other jobs for other Filipinos. I can support the livelihood of local artisans. I have a chance to contribute to the community, and I have a chance to connect with other local business owners.
What is something you can share about your brand that will inspire others to choose and support you?
Working with local artisans is not always easy. Most of the time, they live in very rural areas with little electricity, little internet connection, and most of these areas are prone to natural calamities. But despite all that, their products are still so beautiful. I learned so much from them, and I know that when I support local, when my customers buy from my brand and other local brands, they are directly supporting those kinds of communities.
Can you show us one of your signature pieces or products and if you could walk us through the process of creating them?
So our brand really started selling only Inabel Filipinianas, but for me the star product would be our basic items that have a little bit of Inabel in them. So my favorite product would have to be this Inabel Obi Belt.
There's no romantic process into making them. I'm inspired by daily things that I see, like the common folk going to the office. When I see a beautiful piece of inabel, I work with our mananahi to create something beautiful from it.
How does your brand carry on the Philippine culture and heritage?
So as of now, there are only a handful of Filipino weavers left. So when you support local and other local brands, you are encouraging them to continue the craft and also encouraging the next generation to continue this tradition of hand weaving as well.
Shop for modern Filipiniana apparel from Hannds here at our website or in-store at our Power Plant Mall branch.
