Unquarantined Fashion: Wearing a Century-Old Culture with Inabel
Art expression remarks an exceptional chronicle in every culture. Weaving in Northern Luzon speaks for the Inabel of Ilocos, which renders the historical and colorful way of life of the native Ilocanos. This year is a challenge for everyone, but it did not trim the hand weavers’ thread of dedication in creating laborious but rewarding textile. The rise of pandemic did not block the art; instead, it paved the way to leap inabel with a glam.
From clothes to masks to jewelries and lantern designs, the classy style revives the age-old weaving industry of Ilocos region. These products can now be bought not only to leading multi-faceted shopping stores but also in social networking site stores on Facebook and Instagram.
Also known as Abel Iloco, the makers’ creativity has captured the folks’ eyes even in the middle of peril as it highly pervaded the quarantine attires not only around the country but also abroad.
Different designs in every Ilocos province showcase an in-depth view of tradition. The Binakul pattern is meant to ward off the evil, protecting the wearer. With numerous distinct styles and stories behind it, the Inabel mask is one of the famous pairs that fit every suit with a bang. The air of this feeds all outfit trend goers, making them fashionable as they wear their masks and wear their culture.
The world’s quarantined life in 2020 has pushed every store to apply ingenuity and innovation. With vogue brands like Adidas, Gap, and Chanel, the Philippine Fashion Coalition did not go out of style by making a jewelry fancy.
Araw, a brooch designed by a local accessory brand, uses indigenous Inabel fabric that incorporates and represents the eight rays of the sun in the Philippine flag. It comes with an ivory white and navy blue version as it signifies hope and wisdom. It was named “SONA brooch” as Filipino women legislators unite in showing their support to native weavers.
As the year-end spark with the jazz of Christmas, the intricate beauty of the textile is not only exhibited for dress-ups. One of the developers in the Philippine real state landscape installed lanterns showcasing the country’s diversity with an Inabel-inspired design. The settling of detailed and stylish artworks is a way not only to extend appreciation to all Filipino traditional weavers but also for the heroes who stood as the light of the country in times of need.
With all these masterpieces, one Ilocana stood out as there is no other Filipino Abel icon than the 81-year weaver, Magdalena Gamayo.
At 15, she started creating beautiful textile and sturdy weaves. She has been listed as one of the country’s national living treasures, which bring age-old customs and crafts in appreciation to the Filipinos’ way of living. Magdalena did not stop her passion as she wishes the next generation to imbibe the art. As an inspiration to all Ilocanos, the local government of Pinili, her hometown, has been offering weaving courses to all interested individuals. This is a means to bring back a dying tradition that is highly treasured by the elders.
The start of the 20th century is a rough path for the local weavers because of the invention of machinery, but this pandemic has even made the designers and entrepreneurs enliven cultural art.
To Ilocanos, 2020 is a challenging year to fit in, but there is no happier cultural news than awakening one of the strongest treasures of the Ilocanos – the Inabel. Truly, art expression remarks an exceptional chronicle in every culture.
