Indigo Natural Dye Producers have kept the Itneg tradition alive by producing colorful woven face masks in Peñarubia, Abra. The group has started from participating in government programs. Its cooperative was created in 2015 with Luis Agaid Jr. as chairman. Agaid.
He admits that bringing back the traditional dyeing in clothing is a challenge due to the current state of the fashion industry. However, at the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Philippines, the organization has focused on creating face masks.
“Noong pumunta na tayo sa GCQ, nagsimula tayong magtrabaho. Sabi ko sa kanila, mag-umpisa tayo sa face mask kasi iyong fashion industry on clothing, 100% wala na tayong magagawa. (When we went to GCQ, we started to work. I told them that we have to start with face masks since 100% we cannot do much with the fashion industry on clothing.)”
The Namarabar Indigo Natural Dye Producers are producing 150 masks per day, receiving orders from within and out of the country. Only 5% of the profit goes to the organization. The Itnegs have been given a livelihood through the creation of the face masks.
NINDP urges the public to patronize local products and encourages other natives to participate and show their talents through weaving.
Report from Bernard Jaudian
