Hablon Weaving

Hablon - from habol, to weave - is the handwoven cloth of Iloilo, made on wooden pedal looms in cotton, abaca, polyester blends and sometimes piña-silk, in the stripes and checks that identify it. In the nineteenth century Iloilo was the textile centre of the Philippines and its cloth was exported across Asia; the industry collapsed when cheap machine-made imports arrived, and by the late twentieth century weaving survived in only a handful of towns. It has been revived since, with cooperatives in Miagao, Badiangan and Oton supplying designers and the local market, and hablon now turns up in barong, patadyong wrap skirts and contemporary clothing. Visitors can watch the warping and weaving at the centres, which are small operations of a few looms each, and buy directly. Miagao combines naturally with its UNESCO church an hour from Iloilo City.

What to look for

• The pedal looms - cloth woven on wooden frames.
• The warping - threads laid out before weaving begins.
• The stripes and checks - the patterns that mark hablon.
• The patadyong - the wrap skirt made from the cloth.

When to go

November to May for travel. Weekday working hours - the cooperatives keep ordinary hours and close on Sundays.

Good to know

These are small cooperatives, not visitor centres; call ahead through the municipal office if you want a demonstration. Cotton and blend hablon is affordable; piña-silk is not.

Nearby

Miagao Church is in the same town; Iloilo City's Molo and Jaro churches are an hour away.