Quality and identity makeover for Iloilo's Hablon
The indigenous fabric formerly used for ceremonial occasions is taking a new form. Well, the one from Iloilo, at least.
For the province of Iloilo, hablon-weaving remains a cottage industry. The art of weaving is passed on from one generation to another. For some people in the municipalities of Miag-ao, Oton and some parts of Igbaras and Dueñas, loom weaving is their source of livelihood. They were able to send their children to school and finish a bachelor's degree because of loom weaving.
Along with the government's efforts to upgrade the quality of the handloom fabric is the call for a new image to distinguish it from all the rest.
Hablon is not just a provincial fabric. There are different varieties from the municipalities in Iloilo producing it. What is being done now is the upgraded fabric, with the help of internationally-recognized Ilonggo designers, PJ ARAÑADOR and NONO PALMOS, with noted local designers from the Designers Guild of Iloilo (DGI), ANGELETTE BORJA-RAGUS, ROMEO “BO” PARCON, DON PROTASIO, and JAKI ALCANTARA-PEÑALOSA, they are pushing for its own identity.
With existing products such as pillowcases, place mats, table runners, tote bags and wallet, the fabric is now popularly used for elegant evening gowns and even for stylish barongs.
For the past years, the Department of Trade and Industry with its partner-designer, International Lifestyle Designer, PJ ARAÑADOR, is aiming for a new scheme that was unfeasible in the past, given that our weavers, mostly from Miag-ao, and a number from Oton, Igbaras and Dueñas, depend on the inadequate supply of surplus materials. The trend now is that, weavers have color charts enabling them to provide fashion designers with swatches for their orders.
Quite a delicate material for designers, efforts are now being done to produce bigger and wider looms in contrast to its narrow width of 30 inches.
Although most of our weavers claim the lack of a bigger capital and better access to markets, with the identity makeover and full support on the part of local government agencies in Iloilo, hablon is now being pushed for widespread use such as incorporating these local fabrics in government uniforms as well as private institutions. Thanks to a memorandum from the Office of the President requiring all government agencies to use the local fabric for their office uniforms.
Producers with the talent and creativity of Ilonggo designers have taken to join trade exhibits here and in Manila, Bridal fairs and fashion shows to promote it. This signals the return of the good old fabric and this time, an exclusive shop that breathes in classiness into the native look.
Just a short distance from the main entrance of Robinsons Mall Iloilo, an Ilonggo designer known for her innovative designs and her keen fashion and business senses welcomes the return of genuine, beautifully hand-woven fabric. The shop JAKI PEÑALOSA keeps every item as fresh and flexible and has everything brought our exquisitely cut out from hablon. Designs go bolder these days, with dramatic and theatrical pieces by combining rich colors of the fabric with embellishments of ethnic prints.
Hablon is, to few of us who know, more than just an indigenous fabric of Iloilo. The joy of seeing it transformed becomes a greater delight. We appreciate the efforts of our local weavers in preserving the craft and for remaining devoted to it; our local government agencies for continuously backing-up trainings to upgrade and promote it; and the special touch of our Ilonggo designers in coming up with innovative fashion pieces.
And to those who believe in the beauty of hablon, in your patience and support lies its success and survival.