Traditional Filipino textiles are finding a spot beyond fashion as architecture and furniture studio La Likha incorporates locally woven fabrics and Philippine-made nonwoven materials into contemporary furniture, demonstrating how local craftsmanship can support sustainable design.
The furniture brand La Likha was established in March because the furniture design arm of Licup Architects, with the goal of mixing architecture, functionality, and Filipino cultural heritage through locally sourced materials, La Likha founder and architect Zion Enrico R. Licup said in an interview with BusinessWorld.
“We desired to create contemporary furniture using Filipino textiles,” he said, adding that his interest in traditional fabrics akin to Yakan weaving inspired the enterprise.
In keeping with Mr. Licup, the concept first emerged from an office project in Marikina City where the firm explored integrating Filipino textiles into furniture. It later collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), combining handwoven fabrics from local weaving communities with the institute’s nonwoven banana fiber.
The banana fiber serves because the furniture’s backing layer, while traditional woven textiles remain the visible upholstery.
Mr. Licup said the collaboration supports the firm’s broader commitment to sustainability, noting that the development sector contributes significantly to global carbon emissions.
“We wish our textiles to return from local materials which are biodegradable. As a substitute of counting on conventional materials that take a few years to decompose, banana fiber has the potential to interrupt down naturally,” he said.
Beyond its environmental advantages, banana fiber also offers greater flexibility than conventional foam, making it suitable for curved furniture designs. Nonetheless, due to its coarse texture, the fabric is currently used only as an interior layer reasonably than an exposed seating surface.
“That’s why we only use it as backing,” he said, expressing hope that future innovations would make the fabric smoother and suitable for wider applications.
Furniture development begins with form-finding and ergonomic studies before La Likha works directly with weaving communities, including artisans in Basilan, to secure permission to include their textiles into its designs.
The furniture is manufactured in Pampanga using locally sourced wood, steel, upholstery, and stitching materials, reflecting the corporate’s commitment to minimizing the environmental impact of imported products.
In keeping with Mr. Licup, one challenge was stopping banana fibers from separating during production. The team addressed this by bonding the fibers to woven textiles before fabrication, making a more stable material for furniture-making.
He added that nonwoven textiles could eventually be used beyond furniture, including in acoustic panels, partitions, lighting installations, and other interior applications.
“Thus far, we’ve made around 50 to 60 chairs and sofas,” he said, noting that La Likha currently offers three furniture designs on the market through its online platforms.
The architect credited DOST-PTRI’s research and development efforts for exposing designers to locally developed alternatives to standard materials.
“If we hadn’t discovered what PTRI was doing, we might have continued using conventional foam,” he said. “It’s good that the research is becoming applicable to the furniture design industry.”
La Likha plans to showcase its products at Artifino later this month and is targeting participation in Manila FAME this 12 months.
The architect also called for stronger government support for local designers through expanded exhibition opportunities, research initiatives, and seed funding programs.
“Exhibitions are very expensive for small businesses,” he said. “Government support through partnerships, linkages, and funding programs would help local furniture designers grow.”
He added that Filipino textiles ought to be recognized not only as symbols of heritage or wearable materials but in addition as functional materials that may drive innovation in furniture and interior design. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba