Traveling around the world had exposed them to other countries’ deep appreciation of their cultural fabrics, and the Philippines’ own undervalued variations. “Cultural degradation was a social issue that deeply disturbed us. There was a lack of availability of wearable weaves in the market, which led to it not being worn or used as often—it would only be used as home accents, or labeled as costume-y rather than being our traditional wear.”
An acronym for Alternative Nest and Trading/Training Hub for Indigenous/Ingenious Little Livelihood seekers, ANTHILL was created to give its weaving partners a sense of ownership, something that Anya and her mom felt was integral into making the company sustainable. “We were inspired by the model of BeeHive, a cooperative in the US that works with different local artisans in the community,” Anya says. It was only in August 2013 that ANTHILL embraced its core business of promoting and preserving indigenous weaves by creating products that used their locally loomed fabrics and giving it a modern and fashionable twist.
Anya Lim
“I wanted to launch a campaign that elicits a communal spirit and promotes Filipino pride,” Anya explains. “The insight behind our campaign slogan ‘Wear Your Tribe With Pride’ is really drawn from the desire to plant seeds of cultural continuity among the younger generation. We want to make wearing weaves cool and sexy. We wanted a campaign that will support our brand essence—where culture meets style. At the same time, we wanted more Filipinos to get to know their weaves and feel connected to our culture.”
Minaudières with ANTHILL’s signature fabric
Ligaya dress in kalachuchi leaves print, a product of a collaboration with Hocus Manila using limited cuts of printed fabrics
The brand’s latest collections feature shift dresses, matching sets of crop tops and high-waisted skirts, as well as accessories such as clutches, bowties and neckties, and scarves. “We transitioned to everyday apparel because we want to reach out to more weave wearers,” Anya shares about their decision to veer away from the cocktail and party dresses that ANTHILL had previously been producing. “We are blessed with two young and talented Cebuano designers—Stephen Ferolino for apparel and Cherame Lopez for the non-apparel lines. For the cycles of summer, holiday and capsule collections, we try to use a different fabric application to showcase innovative ways on how to use our weaves. We fall in love with them every time, because it stretches our thread of creativity.”
“We also work with a lot of Design Collaborators to showcase the many possibilities of hand-loomed fabric application,” Anya adds, naming the brands that they’ve partnered with for various collections—Suelas, Ylla Shoes, Risque Designs for shoes; Rags2Riches, Vesti for bags; Sidlan, Mothering Earthlings, LifeAfterBreakfast for lifestyle products; Heads of State Millinery Singapore for hats; and a lot more. “Design isn’t our core strength, but I’d like to think collaboration is.”
The real collaboration, of course, is in ANTHILL’s weaving communities—their three direct partner communities being Mang Abel Ti Abra, the Daraghuyan Bukidnon Tribe and The Handcrafters of Mary Enterprise in Cebu. “We’ve focused on deepening our engagement in the three communities first. We want to be able to ensure sustainable positive impact in the community we work with before expanding to other communities,” Anya elaborates. This relationship involves doing assessments and dialogues with the community on ANTHILL’s business and philosophy. “We then work on cultural appreciation through product design and innovation. We introduce new colors to them that they can apply in their traditional patterns. We then build their business capacity by transferring basic management and accounting skills, before facilitating the Master and Apprentice Skills Program, and a Financial Literacy and Saving Program.”
The geographical locations of the communities do produce some challenges. “We cannot be more present in the community as much as we want,” Anya explains. “The far distances also cause supply chain challenges in deliveries, and sometimes cause delays in achieving production timelines.”
Despite that, ANTHILL’s positive impact in the communities it has approached and the collective view of traditional weaves is undeniable. Personalities like host Tim Yap, newscaster Lia Cruz, singer Rachael Yamagata, and Save the Philippine Seas’ chief mermaid Anna Oposa have worn Anthill to show solidarity with this tribe. “We gain a lot of weave wearers from those working in the government, as well as mothers, and change and culture advocates. Most, if not all, of our weave wearers are active players in effecting change in society,” Anya says proudly. “It’s really inspiring that these are what make our tribe.”
- photography Toni Marie Despojo
- makeup Lyssa Amor
- hair Nicko dela Peña