Handloom Binakol throw, Fan motif

Product : Handloom Binakol throw, Fan motif. Graphic hand loomed cotton. A prized craft from the north of the Philippines known as Binakol. One of a kind. Finished with hand embroidered edging. Dark blue and white, Indigo dye. 200 x 260 cm

Craft : In the far north of the Philippines, in the region of Illocos Norte, a handful of skilled craftspeople weave a cloth known as Binakol.

Binakol is the name given to one of the most recognisable patterns of traditional Philippine hand loom, it is a uniform and interwoven geometric design. Weaving is complicated, it can take up to two weeks to set up a loom, and a day to weave 2 metres of cloth.

It is an illustration of daily life in abstraction, the various motifs represent stories of life in the north of the country. In the different designs you can see representations of the waves of the sea, whirlwinds, fans, cat’s pawprints, and the traditional capiz windows found on houses in the Ilocos region. It is an incredibly complex weaving pattern, and some special pieces are almost psychedelic; circles woven within squares, which move as one looks upon the cloth.

The indigenous people of the Cordilleras region believed this binakol cloth could ward off malevolent spirits, by making the evil spirits dizzy. Today only a small group of women in the Ilocos region of the Philippines are still practicing the craft. For Storie, the importance of the Binakol lies in the artistry and complexity of the way it is woven but also the value of the craft heritage, a story that needs to be told in order to keep this precious tradition alive.

In detail:

4 panels of hand loomed cotton, joined with embroidered motifs to make a large throw.

200 x 260 cm

One of a kind

Dark blue and white (nearly black to the eye, but dyed with natural indigo). Machine washable delicate wash at 30°. Do not tumble dry.