Ilocos Norte’s Taglay Pinoy collective traces its roots in heritage and sustainability

Sustainability- and purpose-driven sensibilities woven into the locale’s vibrant culture stand out in the recently concluded launch of Taglay Pinoy

Famed, among others, for its distinct weaving traditions, Ilocos Norte’s inabel is kept alive by numerous communities and its ubiquity in Ilocano households. The word originates from a combination of abel, the Ilocano word for “weave,” and the Filipino prefix “in-;” in essence, inabel could mean anything that’s woven. Recurrent across inabel products, from plain to patterned, are the textile’s sought-after beauty and resilience. 

The textile, meanwhile, results from the hard work of procuring and processing the cotton, first by hand then by skeiner, which yields the loom that will then be woven through the technique known as agabel in local parlance. 

Among the brands that keep this unique facet of Ilocano heritage alive and compelling for younger generations to take up is Sheil PH, which is among the three homegrown brands from the home, fashion, and lifestyle (HFL) sector that debuted at this year’s Manila FAME, organized by the Center for International Expositions and Missions, under the Taglay Pinoy banner. 

Inabel Blouse by Sheil PH INC

According to Sheil PH founder Reysheil, fondly called Coach Barbie, the fashion service stakes the claim on being the first to produce clothes with the the right blend of inabel. 

Taglay Pinoy is a comprehensive assistance and resources program tailored for the empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to amply equip them for transition into, transformation within, and takeover of the digital space. 

Joining the Ilocos Norte cohort of Taglay Pinoy is KolHabi, a sanctuary for women weavers whose expert hands craft another Ilocano textile offering, binakol. Easily identifiable for its interlocked and almost-illusory geometric pattern, binakol, which is traditionally a textile for protection, has seen applications in gifts to take home such as bags, phone cases, and vanity sets from KolHabi’s brick-and-mortar in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and even in pasalubong centers beyond the region.

Much like inabel and binakol, sustainable business practices are also as ingrained in the Ilocano HFL front of Taglay Pinoy–for one, Sheil PH gives away scraps or retaso to rug makers for free so that supposed textile waste can find a place and better use in the world. 

Another brand striving toward true sustainability is DelMar Shellcrafts, whose name is a recognition of its roots in the sea. Initially offering products made from seashells found along the beaches of Ilocos Norte, they pivoted in the interest of protecting the environment and started specializing in another material with strong attributions to life itself, coconuts. Across over 30 products made from the tree of life, such as bowls, ladles, and other home- and kitchenware, DelMar Shellcrafts stays true to its sustainability mission by ensuring that every bit of the coconut shell is used. If not for the actual products, the remaining parts of the coconuts are used as animal feeds, as is customary of brands practicing ZeroWaste. 

Coconut Shell Dining Wares by Delmar Mother's Shellcraft MPC