Independence Day is almost here! To celebrate this occasion, HABI: The Philippine Textile Council is set to open their online fair once more with new sets of locally-made products that highlight Filipino artisans and craftsmanship from June 12 to 20, 2021. As usual, I’m stoked to see new home decors, fashionable clothes and accessories, toys, art, and even plants!

I’ve been writing about HABI for years now and this online fair never ceases to amaze me with their wide selection of hand-woven and handcrafted products from merchants representing various local weaving communities in the Philippines. Since 2009, HABI has been providing traditional weavers and local weaving communities platforms like the Likhang HABI Market Fair to enhance their skills, innovate to keep up with trends, and ultimately, give the wider market access to their works.

Amidst quarantine regulations, HABI went online in October 2020 to continuously help in sustaining our local weaving economy, while enabling more people to see how these local weaves and products can fit easily into our lives and spaces. To give you an idea about what to expect, here’s a sneak peek:

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Featured items in the fair include those designed to refresh your Home—from laptop pillows for your home office to ­­­decor and accents for your living and dining areas, kitchen, and bedroom. For the first time ever, Pop Culture collectibles like ethnic instruments, komiks, toys, iconic figurines, tattoos, and contemporary art will also be available.

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The HABI Kalayaan Fair also has a Nature and Wellness selection for all those plantitos and plantitas, pet parents, home fitness enthusiasts, and cyclists who had the chance to discover their new passion while on lockdown. As the fair begins just ahead of Father’s Day, it’s also curating unique and meaningful Gift Ideas for Dad, where you’re sure to find him the perfect present.

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Always a highly anticipated part of any HABI fair, this one will of course include must-have Fashion & Accessories that showcase the Filipino weavers’ most stylish works from clothes, face masks, scarves, to malong, as well as accessories like bags, earrings, and hair accents. HABI Exclusives like its published books, the Philippine Cotton Yarn, and weaves woven by different communities with HABI Philippine Cotton Yarns also take the spotlight at the online fair.

Likhang HABI Kalayaan OnlineFairis also joining the national Dama Ko, Lahi Ko campaign, strongly supporting its invitation for Filipinos to express their Filipino-ness through the five senses. Through this online fair, Filipinos will be able to learn more about their culture, feel the “Pinoy pride” as they get to see more of what weaving communities can offer, wear more local by looking into everyday wear with weaves, and love local by buying Filipino-made products first and foremost. 

We can shop safely while still supporting Filipino artisans this June by heading over to shophabifair.com, HABI’s virtual mall.

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