Handmade, heartmade

12:34 AM


Alima Community, Jewelry, The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. Community, Advocacy, Nature, Social Enterprise, Barotac Nuevo, Lawigan, San Joaquin, Sea, Kataw, Rofil

“AN old slipper has been floating around. A fisherman throws used rope out of a boat. Bottles break as they crash against beach rocks and sea walls. On the coast of San Joaquin, a woman picks up trash and crafts them into treasure.”

Alima Community, Jewelry, The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. Community, Advocacy, Nature, Social Enterprise, Barotac Nuevo, Lawigan, San Joaquin, Sea, Kataw, Rofil

“Ripened by sunshine, rains, and the fresh breeze of the mountains of Iloilo, woven out of a mother’s struggles and hopes. May the wildness of nito vine and endemic seeds and the intention of the maker touch you,” is how the Ilonggo team behind Alima Community teases out their handcrafted jewelry, all handmade by women from disadvantaged areas empowered through the social enterprise and immersive outreach of multidisciplinary artist Marrz Capanang, writer and performance poet Kristine Buenavista, and emerging painter Jonn Laserna.

The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. For “Rofil”: wild vine, endemic seeds and natural dye harvested from the forests of Barotac Viejo and San Enrique; for “Kataw”: beach trash and sea debris collected along the coast of Lawigan, San Joaquin.

Alima Community, Jewelry, The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. Community, Advocacy, Nature, Social Enterprise, Barotac Nuevo, Lawigan, San Joaquin, Sea, Kataw, Rofil

“In a world of mass production, machines, and manufacturing, we are going back to the unique art made by hands. Every piece goes through a slow and intricate journey,” explains Buenavista, adding that their name is derived from the Kinaray-a word for “hand”. Each jewelry is handcrafted, so often no two pieces are alike.

Why not complete your outfit with the shimmering “Walo walo” –named after the elusive sea snake (all designs in the “Kataw” line are named after indigenous fishes and sea creatures) – dangling earrings made from brass and shards of sea glass, designed by Lawigan local Jen-jen Sargento; or Ging Meñeza’s “Pakol – Makalilingaw” could be more to your liking, the piece crafted from discarded rubber slippers and plastic rope can top off any Bohemian getup.

Alima Community, Jewelry, The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. Community, Advocacy, Nature, Social Enterprise, Barotac Nuevo, Lawigan, San Joaquin, Sea, Kataw, Rofil

“Rofil” named after 40-year-old artisan Rofil Casipe from an aeta community in Barotac Viejo, offers the eye-catching “Hakos” – a necklace made of puyas seeds, nito vine, and brass – and the heart-shaped “Mabinatyagon,” from endemic vines and seeds to statement piece.

“As our commitment to empower, we immerse in the life of the village to observe the creative process of our artists and to listen and experience their stories,” shares the Alima Community team, adding that they often hold workshops and self-development activities in the communes they are involved with. Also, the profits from every purchase are fairly shared with the artists and the community.

Alima Community, Jewelry, The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. Community, Advocacy, Nature, Social Enterprise, Barotac Nuevo, Lawigan, San Joaquin, Sea, Kataw, Rofil

“All three of us found a deeper meaning in creating together; in unlearning that good art can be found in studious, museums, and galleries. All three of us fell in love with the essence of working closely with ordinary makers as they blossom into empowered artists?” they concluded.

Your loved one’s wardrobe could use some empowering jewelry, noh?
To see all the designs offered by Alima Community, while helping a community in the process, check out their official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/alimacommunity.ph and www.alimacommunity.com.

Alima Community, Jewelry, The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. Community, Advocacy, Nature, Social Enterprise, Barotac Nuevo, Lawigan, San Joaquin, Sea, Kataw, Rofil
Alima Community, Jewelry, The jewelry designs of Alima Community are imagined and crafted personally by members of the endeavor’s local communes, using sustainable elements and raw materials. Community, Advocacy, Nature, Social Enterprise, Barotac Nuevo, Lawigan, San Joaquin, Sea, Kataw, Rofil

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