Journal

The Woven Bags of the Cordillera

The mountains of the Cordillera region in the Philippines are a sight to behold. Cool streams wind through rolling hills and stately trees. Lush ri...

Messages from the Past

MESSAGES—It’s not often you find messages from your ancestors directly to you and your children. I remember my husband mentioning to me that his gr...

The Weaving of Kalinga

The province of Kalinga is one of the many places in the Philippines where the practice of traditional backstrap loom weaving not only survives but...

The Hand Embroidery of Lumban

The Tagalog word for embroidery is burda (pronunciation: boor-DA). It refers to both the activity (pagbuburda) and the product. But in the town of ...

The Inabel of Ilocos: Woven Cloth for Everyday

The inabel is one of the many prides of the Ilocos region in the Philippines. “Abel” is the Ilocano word for weave, and “inabel” can be interpreted...

Baybayin: The Ancient Filipino Script Lives On

Baybayin is one of the precolonial writing systems used by early Filipinos. The term “baybayin” comes from the Tagalog root word baybay, which mean...

Official! Check out our press release about our launch

NARRA STUDIO is a new social enterprise and cultural shop featuring a curated collection of clothing, accessories, and objects that highlight artis...

The Tboli Brass Casting Tradition

The T’boli’s brass casting tradition is held in high regard for their exquisite accessories and objects made of brass, such as bells, rings, neckla...

Weaving Communities in Mindanao

Join us in learning more about weaving communities in Mindanao, Philippines. Weaving of the Manobo, Bagobo, Kulaman, Mandaya, B'laan, T'boli, Maran...

Weaving Communities in Panay and Visayas

Visayan weavers mostly make use of natural fibers, including those extracted from the leaves of the red Bisaya pineapple plant, piña. They also use...

Weaving Communities in Luzon

Join us through a tour of weaving communities in the Philippines starting from the north on the island of Luzon, to south at the island of Mindoro.

Weaving Traditions: A History

Weaving in the Philippine archipelago is more than just a function of necessity; it’s also an art form, a tangible expression of culture.