Crafting Futures: Sustaining handloom weaving in the Philippines
The Philippines is a country with a vibrant and diverse culture, as reflected in its cultural heritage and emerging practices of artisans today. While there are various reports on the wider craft industries in the Philippines, the British Council identified a need for an updated study on handloom weaving given the sector’s motivations to reinvent and propel itself into the local and global craft scene.
We commissioned MUNI, a Philippine-based sustainable communications consultancy, to conduct this study. The research presents insights on the gaps and opportunities in the handloom weaving industry in the Philippines and how it is being impacted by global trends.
Based on in-depth interviews with stakeholder groups, the study provides a holistic picture on handloom weaving in the Philippines. It analyses the different value chains within the sector, as well as the power-interest correlation of its players amid cultural, economic and psychological factors shaping the handloom weaving industry. In addition to informing our Crafting Futures arts programming, we believe the study is a significant contribution to the existing knowledge base on the state of the craft sector in the Philippines.
Executive summary
The report’s Executive Summary can be downloaded here. This contains information about the study’s methodological framework and a summary of findings.
Full report
The full report, ‘Crafting Futures: Sustaining handloom weaving in the Philippines’ can be downloaded here. The report consists of the research objectives, framework and design, presentation of analysis and data, summary of findings and recommendations.
