Haute couture from Argao's “Hablon”

CEBU, Philippines - A locally woven fabric of the municipality of Argao, in southern Cebu, is to be highlighted in the "Dalagang Argaoanon ug ang Hablon 2015" beauty pageant on September 26 at the Cerge Remonde Sports Complex of the town.

The hand-woven fabric is known as "hablon" or "hinablon." The candidates of the pageant are to wear outfits cut and styled from the fabric - designed by up-and-coming Argaoanon fashion designers and by accomplished Cebuano designer Dexter Alazas.

Said to have been done by Argaoanons since the early 1900s, the name "hablon" stems from the vernacular word "habol," which translates to "to cover." "Hablon" refers to the weaving process that's involved in the making of the fabric and "hinablon" refers to the finished product, although calling the fabric simply as "hablon" has now become acceptable.

Traditionally woven using materials like abaca and "tingkal" (cotton strands), contemporary variations of "hablon" woven from materials like polyester are gaining interest in the local fashion scene.

With the continuing production of "hablon" and the preservation of its distinct weaving process, coupled with the attention it is presently getting, there's no doubt that Argao's locally made fabric is on its way into the contemporary haute couture scene. (FREEMAN)