Traditional Philippine textiles find a place beyond fashion as architecture and furniture studio La Likha combines locally woven fabrics and Philippine-made nonwovens into contemporary furniture, showing how local art can support sustainable design.
The La Likha furniture brand was established in March as a furniture division of Licup Architects, with the aim of combining architecture, functionality, and Filipino cultural heritage with locally sourced materials, La Likha founder and architect Zion Enrico R. Licup said in an interview with BusinessWorld.
“We wanted to create modern furniture using Filipino fabrics,” he said, adding that his passion for traditional fabrics such as Yakan weaving inspired the business.
According to Mr. Licup, the concept first appeared in an office project in Marikina City where the firm explored incorporating 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.
Banana fiber acts as a support layer for the furniture, while traditional woven fabrics remain the visible upholstery.
Mr Licup said the partnership supports the firm’s wider commitment to sustainability, noting that the construction sector is a major contributor to global carbon emissions.
“We want our fabrics to come from local materials that do not decompose. Instead of relying on conventional materials that take years to decompose, banana fiber has the ability to decompose naturally,” he said.
Besides its environmental benefits, banana fiber also offers greater flexibility than regular foam, making it ideal for curved furniture designs. However, due to its coarse structure, the material is currently only used as an interior layer rather than an exposed living space.
“That’s why we only use it as a backup,” he said, expressing hope that future innovations will make things smoother and ready for wider use.
The development of the furniture begins with obtaining forms and ergonomic studies before La Likha works directly with weaving communities, including artisans in Basilan, to obtain permission to incorporate their textiles into its designs.
The furniture is produced in Pampanga using locally sourced wood, metal, upholstery, and sewing materials, reflecting the company’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of imported products.
According to Mr. Licup, one challenge was preventing the banana fibers from splitting during production. The team tackled this by combining the fibers of woven fabrics before manufacturing, creating a sustainable material for furniture making.
He added that non-woven fabrics can eventually be used outside of furniture, including acoustic panels, partitions, lighting fixtures and other interior items.
“So far, we have made about 50 to 60 chairs and sofas,” he said, noting that La Likha currently offers three furniture designs for sale through its online platforms.
The architect appreciated the research and development efforts of DOST-PTRI to expose designers to locally developed alternatives to conventional materials.
“If we hadn’t found out what PTRI was doing, we would have continued to use standard foam,” he said. “It’s good that research is starting to work in the furniture design industry.”
La Likha plans to showcase its products at Artifino later this month and aims to participate in Manila FAME this year.
The architect also called for stronger government support for local designers through increased exhibition opportunities, research programs, and seed funding programs.
“Exhibitions are very expensive for small businesses,” he said. “Government support for collaboration, communication, and funding programs will help local furniture designers grow.”
He added that Filipino textiles should be recognized not only as symbols of heritage or wearables but also as functional materials that can drive innovation in furniture and interior design. – Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba
