BALAY NI ATONG

is the precise term for woven cloth produced on the Ilocano loom and embodies the characteristic attributes of an Ilocano Abel which is made of cotton, well-woven and with straight-neat edges. The  inabel  is distinguished  from  all  other  Philippine  and even Asian textiles for its sturdiness in construction, stark simplicity of design, and practicality in function.

Remarkable for their rich coloring and bold designs, hand-woven textiles are an important part of the long, varied  cultural heritage of  the Ilocos region. History records  that  Inabel  were  rooted  traditions  at  the  time  the  Spanish  colonized the  Ilocos   region   in   the 1500’s. Neighboring Asian countries were already trading their gold, ceramics, iron  and beads with Inabel in the natural harbors along the coasts. For centuries Inabel has been used as clothing, blankets and even sails for galleons.

Today, due to the local market being flooded with factory- processed imported textiles- not to  mention  the  enticement of  higher  income  generating  jobs in foreign  countries-the number   of   weavers   willing  to  continue  the  tradition  of  textile  weaving   has   been dramatically reduced. There  are  currently  less  than 300  active  weavers in  the  region, some  weaving  traditions  have died with the weavers and  some  weaving  communities have vanished.

Balay ni Atong currently houses the Study Center for Traditional Hand-Woven Textiles of the Ilocos Region.  It is the hope of the center to achieve sustainability   between scholars and weavers by reintroducing quality made inabel not as ordinary textiles but as artworks produced by artisans.

Balay ni Atong showcases hand  woven  textiles  done  on  traditional  wooden  looms by Ilocano  artisans  using  weaving  techniques   passed  on  through  generations. Woven patterns on the fabric are based on designs of antique blankets and   clothing   materials dating  from  the  1800’s  to  the mid  1900’s.  Although the  reproduced  to  contemporary textiles carry the traditional designs, they are made younger by using colors, scales and some technology of today.

Together with our new  bigger community of Ilocano  weavers, Balay ni Atong  invite you  to join us in exploring the amazing journey of the Ilocano weaving tradition. The spirit of Abel lives on! 

Through  your  patronage  you  are helping keep the inabel tradition alive.