Anthill Fabric Gallery, a social enterprise is working to preserve local textile through contemporary designs, has been propagating sustainable fashion through the years. With the help of its partner artisans and patrons, the brand was able to launch its circular line, the Reweave collection.
Alternative Nest and Trading/ Training Hub for Indigenous/ Ingenious Little Livelihood (ANTHILL) elevates Filipino culture through contemporary and circular design. It supports cultural preservation and sustainable livelihood through community enterprise building among its partner artisan communities.
The Reweave collection is a selection of samples and items exchanged by their customers. They are pre-loved items woven with upcycled thread, designed by in-house designers.
In line with its Weave Exchange Program in 2018, the enterprise encourages its customers to have a much more eco-conscious closet, and surrender their old and unused Anthill weaves. The textiles are evaluated and exchanged for a gift card that can be used to purchase new textiles. These fabrics, along with other samples and unsold pieces, are upcycled to be part of a more accessible line.
The collection features easy casual pieces tinted with colorful patterns. Local fabrics such as Benguet’s kantarines and binakol are mixed with cotton and denim to create casual blouses, reversible capes, and flounced skirts.
All these and many other small steps, like reducing the number of pieces in seasonal collections, are part of their continuous journey to circularity.
References:
Manila Bulletin
