Make your own mother happy by giving that special woman in your life one-of-a-kind artisanal gifts lovingly made by countless mothers themselves from all over the country.
What kind of gift to give her? Is your mother the greatest cook in the world? Is she passionate about coffee? Does she always make it a point to look her best? Or, is she the ultimate plantita?
Wherever your mom’s passions lie, show her your love this Mother’s Day while helping other mothers across the country as well—traditional weavers whose beautiful creations you can find at the Habi Mama, a Habi Mother’s Day Fair, ongoing until May 9, at www.shophabifair.com.
With many of us rethinking how to give extra recognition to our moms, especially as the pandemic continues to keep us apart, Habi: The Philippine Textile Council has worked closely with its partner communities to come up with special “curated” gift baskets. Made by women-led basket-weaving Tagbanua communities in Aborlan, Palawan, these baskets contain themed gift sets composed of sustainable and ethical fashion and lifestyle products from over 28 merchants representing various weaving and local artisan communities from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Choose from any of these baskets, and make your mom proud of how you supported these local businesses:
- The Stay Safe Mama: contains handwoven leather clip-on hand sanitizer bag accessory; two three-ply face masks made of Philippine cotton; leather face mask holder with Maranao beads and Philippine cotton tassel
- The Kikay Zoom Mama: contains Sunnies lipstick and lip and cheek tint; handwoven makeup pouch; handmade and locally sourced face soap made with aloe vera and coconut oil; handwoven Philippine cotton scarf by Creative Definitions
- The Relaxed Mama: contains handwoven inabel towel; lavender soy cold-pressed candle; lavender massage oil infused with extra virgin coconut oil, grapeseed, and jojoba; handwoven buri banig yoga may by Aklan Ati Community (sourced from Aklan)
- The Cooking Mama: contains handwoven apron and oven mittens; locally sourced wooden ladle and fork; handwoven bucket hat; handwoven binakul face mask by YakangYaka
- The Garden Plantita Mama: contains handwoven half apron; Habi Philippine cotton seed kit (grow your own cotton at home); handmade citronella lotion bar in waterlily container
- The Coffee-lover Mama: contains two local coffee products, Original Grounds Baguio Gold and Tommy’s Roasted Sagada dark coffee; two handwoven Yakan coasters, one customize fabric graphic mug by HABI Philippine Textile council
Helping artisan communities
Habi has been a strong advocate of supporting weaving communities and local artisans all over the Philippines, and its largest annual trade fair happens every October during National Indigenous Month. Now on its 12th year, the non-stock, nonprofit organization continues to find ways to help uplift these local artisan communities through its pop-up fairs like Habi Mother’s Day under its Habi Mama project, especially since these artisans have been strongly impacted by the pandemic.
Gifts that last
The Habi Mama campaign has found strong supporters in the persons of Gloria Diaz and niece Georgina Wilson who also happen to be mothers themselves.
Using Philippine cotton fabrics, Wilson has developed comfortable outfits for her family, as she believes that supporting our local weaving industry and celebrating our culture is highly important. She also sponsored Sunnies makeup for our Habi Mama kikay gift baskets.
Diaz, on the other hand, is supporting Bulacan Buri flower makers by Punique Ph, who incorporate Habi Philippine cotton flowers in their Mother’s Day bouquet. This locally made bouquet lasts forever, and each purchase supports our local cotton farmers, keeping this industry alive for generations to come.
Mothers for mothers
Reviving the use of pure Philippine cotton, a fiber that is very much a part of Filipino culture, has been a long-term commitment of Habi, which it also supports through campaigns like Habi Mama. The group has partnered with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PHILFIDA) to provide local farmers with cotton seeds.
Weavers, most of whom are mothers, are also given threads under Habi’s Cotton Adoption Project, so as to encourage them to use pure cotton in their products.
“Mothers are the ones who shepherd traditions such as weaving to their families. They are the ones who can pass on the love of weaving to kids. We hope Filipinos can make this year’s Mother’s Day extra special for both the moms who cared for them and the weaver moms who take care of preserving our culture by supporting the Habi Mama campaign,” says Habi vice president Ruby Roa, Habi Mother’s Day fair co-chair.
Habi Mama, A Habi Mother’s Day Fair, is ongoing until May 9, on www.shophabifair.com. For more information, send an email to likhanghabi@gmail.com or visit www.habitextilecouncil.ph For more updates on Habi: The Philippine Textile Council, visit our official page www.facebook.com/HabiThePhilTextileCouncil and follow on Instagram at @habifair.
