Artisanal products, however, are not meant to replace factory goods, but to enhance them to co-exist in the present as our link to the past. Given the nature of handcrafted goods, the weavers of the Philippines cannot produce items at the speed and price of mass market goods.
As it stands, there are less than 10 master weavers left in the country. As we continue to move in this direction, the number of weavers and pocket communities that uphold the tradition of weaving get smaller and smaller and consequently, more women are losing their source of livelihood.
However, with the rise of industrialization, the world has shifted dramatically towards factory-produced goods, with prices dropping as quantities rise. The weaving tradition dates back several centuries and is an intrinsic part of the Filipino culture.Binakul can be easily recognized by its uniform, interlocked geometric patterns that result in psychedelic optical art designs, which are said to represent the waves of the sea and, among indigenous peoples of the Cordilleras, protection against malevolent spirits. The designs are inspired by natural elements: patterns that depict different landforms, the colors of flowers and vegetation, plaid, zigzags, animal patterns, the ocean waves, or glittering night sky.Textile Inabel – a hand weaving technique of the Ilocanos that is produced using traditional wooden looms.Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it.