SOCIAL SET
Sovereign threads
This year’s exposition — anchored on the poignant ethos of being ‘Worth Every Thread’ — served as a grand, unyielding fortress for our indigenous identity.
The recently concluded 16th Likhang Habi Market Fair masterfully transformed Level 5, Space at One Ayala into a living testament to the Filipino soul, scoring a monumental triumph for cultural sovereignty and absolute patriotism.
Organized by HABI: The Philippine Textile Council, this year’s exposition — anchored on the poignant ethos of being “Worth Every Thread” — served as a grand, unyielding fortress for our indigenous identity.
Over a hundred grassroots master weavers, artisans and visionary contemporary designers converged to breathe modern life into ancestral fibers. From the delicate, translucent whispers of pure piña and robust abaca featured in the prestigious Lourdes Montinola and Eloisa Hizon Gomez weaving competitions to the timeless geometry of regional weaves, the bustling marketplace proved that our local textile industry does not merely survive; it commands global prestige, transforming heritage into an engine of economic defiance.
The successful fair was a fierce national renaissance where history met the future.
The brilliant juxtaposition of heritage immortalized by the Benilde Fashion Museum’s display of vintage piña and abaca gowns by legendary couturiers Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales and Auggie Cordero with cutting-edge, weave-infused modern lifestyle innovations sent an unmistakable message: The handwoven heart of this nation will never be diluted.
To wear our local weaves is a profound act of devotion, an unbroken thread of absolute pride that ensures the Filipino spirit remains fiercely sovereign, beautifully independent and eternally resilient.