ANTHILL Fabric Gallery has partnered with Maybank Foundation to implement the Maybank Women Eco-Weavers Programme (MWEW) in the Philippines, marking its expansion into the fifth ASEAN country after Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. The initiative aims to support local weaving communities through financial empowerment, capacity-building, and sustainable fiber production.
Maybank Foundation, an ASEAN-accredited entity focused on social impact, has trained over 1,900 women weavers and supported more than 2,200 farmers across the region since MWEW’s inception. The Philippine program will focus on enhancing abaca fiber research and production while promoting regenerative farming practices and economic sustainability.
“For 15 years, ANTHILL has been committed to weaving sustainability into Filipino communities,” said ANTHILL Fabric Gallery co-founder and managing directorAnya Lim. “This partnership with Maybank Foundation allows us to scale our impact and strengthen the livelihoods of our partner artisans.”
Maybank Foundation Group Corporate Affairs head and CEO Izlyn Ramli emphasized the program’s role in preserving cultural heritage while promoting ethical and sustainable textile production in the Philippines.
The initiative is supported by Maybank Philippines, alongside its Cebu and Cagayan de Oro branch teams, which will assist in engaging with weaving communities and ensuring the program’s long-term sustainability.