Good Stuff from the Philippines

Our newly-released Good Stuff and Summer Romance collections are close to our hearts–and we’re excited to tell you why! Material is always an important consideration when designing our pieces, and we thought it would be a great opportunity to share some local culture with our international audience… in the form of textiles from our home in the Philippines. We partnered with Filipino artisans to bring you beautiful, handwoven beachwear. It is our hope that you come to love, appreciate and respect this woven material as much as we do.

In curating this collection, we worked closely with Maryjo Campila and her Abel Iloco (@abel_iloco) team, a weaving community from a northern Philippine province called Ilocos Sur. They specialize in creating a native fabric called inabel, which literally translates to woven. This textile has been around as early as the 16th century and continues to be used today. 

Maryjo Campila learned to weave at a young age by watching her mother and her neighbors, most of whom have looms in their own homes. In 2014, when Maryjo noticed that her mother’s weaving business had an oversupply of fabrics and a lack of demand, she had the idea to start an Instagram where they were able to reach more clients–us included!

Together, we created modern beachwear using traditional textiles. While Blackbough designed the products by selecting the specific colors and types of inabel patterns to use, the Abel Iloco team handled production by weaving each and every piece by hand. This art form requires loads of patience, as each strand of thread is intricately woven into the cloth. 

In addition to its vibrant and colorful designs, the inabel’s sturdiness and practical function makes it the perfect material for bags, hats and clothing. Though traditionally used for blankets, polos and conical skirts, this material is starting to be applied on more contemporary items. This is a great development in ensuring the survival of this artisanal craft, and we’re happy to contribute.

Recognizing our platform, we wanted to give the local weaving community a bigger audience to share their creative tradition. In our partnership, we were sure to compensate the Abel Iloco artisans well above average, and adjusted our order quantities so as not to overwork or rush them. Throughout our collaboration, Maryjo expressed deep gratitude for both past and present clients, showing just how much impact each client has had on her team. We at Blackbough hope that we were able to make a significant contribution to their livelihood as well.

For Abel Iloco, weaving is an integral part of their community as it is their main source of income. It’s a tradition that is passed down to children, from one generation to another, and they are happy to teach whoever shows interest in learning how to weave.

This project has been a truly heartwarming experience for us, and we wish to do more like this soon. If you are interested in working with Abel Iloco, reach out and we’ll connect you! 

1. Our Althea bucket hat and Maryjo tote bag use a plain binakol weave in kusikus pattern, a series of squares in two colors.

3. Our Ofelia halter top in Starburst (left) uses a combination of the pinilian weave, while the Ofelia halter top in Orchid (right) uses both linitson and binakol weaves.

3. Our Teresita beach bag in Tropic (left) and the Janica Bucket Hat in Tropic (right) use a linitson weave.

4. The Ofelia halter top in Watermelon (left) utilizes a brocade weaving technique or pinilian, with a dalluyun pattern. Our newly-released Teresita beach bags come in more color combinations and custom embroidered patches.

Sources:
(2015). INABEL Philippine Textile from the Ilocos Region. Air Post Asia.
(2013). HABI A Journey through Philippine Handwoven Textiles (R. Guatlo, Ed). Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Recent Blogs

This or That: Lola or Kels?

We’re starting this new series to zoom in on the best features of each piece, so that ultimately we can help you babes decide which one to get! We know how hard it is to make a decision  (while we always say why not both, we totally understand that sometimes, choices have to be made). We’re starting out with the hottest new styles this summer - the Lola Set and Kels Sets!

View Details

Trend Spotlight: Tie-Dye

We’re already more than halfway into 2020 and one thing is certain - tie-dye is staying on top as one of this year’s hottest trends! From streetwear to high fashion, bikinis to accessories, every brand wants in on this hot trend. We’re completely in love with this casual print for its unique vibe perfect for any dressed down occasion, so we’re sharing with you where we’re seeing it!

View Details

Bikini Confessionals: Amber Veras

We’re starting this new series here on our blog to give close-ups on our swimsuit loving babes! First off - we’re featuring our OG customer who’s been a loyal Blackbough babe since early 2018. Let’s hear how babe Amber Veras has been loving her suits, feeding her obsession with new swim and everything in between!

View Details

Pink Stuff We Love

From candy to neon, pastel to rose, we’re absolutely obsessed with this fun hue. Trends come and go but our love for pink will never fade! This summer, let your mood shine through in all these pink goodies to love. Here are some of our top picks!

View Details

12345678910111213141516171819202122