By Alessandra Brigitte Anonas
THE Great Women in Asean Brand has been taking the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by storm with its unique designs that consist of vibrant textiles made by our very own tribes such as the Bagobo indigenous people.
Materials made from pineapple silk or Piña cloth and handwoven prints such as the ikat are transformed into bags, clothing and other accessories.
Known as the Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation (Great) Women, the group seeks to draw young artists in the region to help in the growth of Asian culture.
“We teach these people how to get in touch with us and the designers and costing and how to do their product plans,” Zarah Juan of Green Leaf Bags told the BusinessMirror.
Jeannie Javelosa, president of the Empowering Communities with Hope and Opportunities through Sustainable Initiatives (ECHOsi) Foundation Inc., explained the Great Women is a Philippine gender platform of development and linked to the Philippine market. We have been travelling throughout the country in search of indigenous tribes to learn their crafts, as well as to teach them how to set up their business with their brand, Javelosa said.
She said they especially help young women of the tribe “with their identity crisis.”
“Some of the next generation [of the indigenous peoples’ community] are aready asking themselves ‘Why would I want to weave if my parents are poor and we are poor right now and it doesn’t put food on the table?’ So this makes them leave the mountains to become domestic helpers or they become tindera sa palengke just to get out of poverty.”
Javelosa explained “that’s where the problem grows because our culture leaves with them and, thus, the identity crisis happens because then we ask ourselves who are we?”
“If we are there for them to show them that they matter to our culture then they wouldn’t have these problems. They will realize that they have to love who they are so that our identity as Filipinos has nothing to fear.”
The Great Women brand steps in by sharing their knowledge on how to sell these products, Juan explained. We show tribeswomen their handwoven textiles aren’t just meant for throw pillow cases or handkerchiefs and traditional garments, but these could also be used for bags and other high-end fashion designs that can be marketed and sold globally, she added.
As much as possible, we advise tribeswomen not to change their colors and designs because that is their trademark and that is what makes them unique to these markets, Javelosa added.
“Weaving may be a dying craft” but by making weaving into a thriving business, we can show young women they can continue the craft and make it a globally competitive and renowned industry. We don’t have to sacrifice our culture.”
She added by doing so, they can ensure the next generation of weavers would not forget the craft they grew up with.
“They can make something of themselves by innovating the knowledge that has been passed down to them by our ancestors.”
Javelosa added making products by indigenous people globally competitive would also help Filipino millennials appreciate what is truly Filipino.
“We can make our identity as solid as it can be with these innovations and promotion of our culture.”
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