What to expect at the 2025 Likhang Habi Fair in Makati this October

The future of the weaving industry lies in the ability of artisans to innovate. This is at the core of the two competitions spearheaded by the HABI Council to elevate and celebrate craftsmanship.

Entries to the 8th Lourdes Montinola Piña Weaving Competition and the 4th Eloisa Hizon Gomez Abaca Weaving Competition will be on display for the public to enjoy and draw inspiration from. The family of the chair emeritus of Far Eastern University (FEU) and piña advocate Dr Lourdes Montinola will be attending the awarding ceremony for the Piña competition, which will be held on October 11. For the Abaca competition, the heirs of Eloisa Hizon Gomez will be in attendance to award the winning entries, including her son Dom Martin (formerly fashion designer Gang Gomez), on October 12.

Within the fair, visitors can look forward to an expanded food and lifestyle section. The new space will showcase culinary artisans, regional delicacies and featured restaurants, with areas for lounging and dining—making this year’s fair a true feast for the senses. At the helm will be chef Sau Del Rosario, a pioneering figure in Philippine gastronomy recognised for his dedication to promoting Kapampangan heritage through contemporary culinary expression.

He was motivated to collaborate with HABI due to “our shared passion, vision and commitment to championing Filipino artists and craftsmanship.” Chef Sau’s culinary space will showcase creations from Café Fleur.

Related: What to buy at Himbon: The 39th Negros Trade Fair, according to chefs Cara Davis and Luis Locsin

Beyond a marketplace to buy and sell goods, Likhang Habi prides itself on creating meaningful encounters between vendors and buyers, whether the latter may be purchasing for personal use or commercial purposes. The goal is for both parties to establish a relationship, share ideas and benefit from the exchange.

“The vendors get a lot out of being there and meeting their customers,” said HABI president emeritus Adelaida Lim. “They get to see what the buyers are interested in, and that dialogue helps them level up to what the market wants.”

HABI secretary Rambie Lim explained that having the weavers themselves present their creations is the best way to educate the end user on how to use their weaves. “All traditional textiles have meaning; they have a purpose,” she stressed. This direct communication ensures that the products are treated appropriately and that the cultures of the communities are honoured accordingly.

No indigenous textile would exist, however, without the environment that produces its various components. From the cotton for the threads to the herbs and flowers for the dyes, ensuring the weaving industry flourishes means protecting the nature that provides these elements.

One of the HABI Council’s most important partnerships is with the Mahalina Foundation, co-founded by Mercedes Zobel and Dr Patricia Araneta. Apart from a shared interest in Philippine textile arts, Mahalina also shares in HABI’s cotton advocacy and in a project to propagate Philippine cotton for the promotion of Philippine loom weaving.

“Our first initiative with HABI was the presentation of weaves from the weaving community in Ibaan, Batangas, two years or so ago,” shared Dr Araneta. “These were made with HABI’s Philippine cotton and dyed with natural plant dyes collected by the weavers from their surroundings. It was also an exercise in enterprise development for the Ibaan weavers.”

Subsequently, Mahalina Foundation went on to grow and propagate cotton in communities in Calatagan—a project that came with its own set of challenges. Initially, they were unsure if they would be able to grow the Philippine cotton seeds from HABI.

“We were told that the soil and climate in Calatagan would not be suitable for cotton growing,” Dr Araneta continued. “Since one of our programmes is in the healing and regenerative arts, we were practising soil regeneration. We improved soil quality, sourced cotton seeds from the Tagabawa Bagobo in Bitaug, Bandalan, Davao del Sur and Serukadang Manuvu in Don Carlos, Bukidnon. The cotton we planted from these grows profusely. Mahalina is moving ahead to develop community-based spinning and weaving projects with members of the ten barangays it works with in Calatagan.”

While the fair presents a wonderful opportunity for people to wear beautifully crafted weaves and introduce to the world our colourful identity, this comes at the end of a long process that begins with caring for nature, protecting local culture, encouraging innovation and providing opportunities for fair trade.

For more information, visit habiphilippinetextilecouncil.com.

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