Jacinto and Lirio: Uplifting Communities, One Local Product at a Time

When in Manila, the Christmas season is one of the most fast-paced and stressful times of the year. There are so many gatherings to attend and gifts to buy. This is when spending and consumerism go on an all-time-high. As we continue to express our love through giving, we consume more for ourselves and for our loved ones. But how responsible and intentional are we as consumers? 

The fashion industry is known to be one of the most wasteful industries out there. This is why business like Jacinto and Lirio have tried to make sustainable fashion a trend in the country. 

“Consumers are now finding a win-win situation between their interests and the welfare of the earth,” said Anne Mariposa, the owner and one of the five founders of Jacinto and Lirio. “Fashion has always been a fickle industry. According to earthpledge.org, it is second only to agriculture with its water consumption. In the process of turning its raw materials into textiles and fabrics, it uses over 8,000 chemicals. It also accounts for 25% of pesticides used worldwide to grow non-organic cotton.” 

When Jacinto and Lirio first started operations, they started sellings bags alone. But now, they have included multifunction gadget covers, refillable journals, corporate gifts, and most recently, their “Planner-Wallet-Mobile Case-in-1” and their “Burda Gadget Wraps.”

“There are two overarching goals for the planner: to introduce the social enterprise scene plus other locally made brands to hip, young professionals, and to invoke interest in Philippine cultural icons illustrated in a quirky, contemporary manner,” Anne explained.

 

“In terms of design, we collaborated with Mia Sereno, an Australian-based Filipino calligrapher. We are even more emphasizing the Filipino artisanship by using the baybayin calligraphy, often known as alibata, as well as different cultural Filipino symbols such as the Ibong Adarna, Maria Makiling.”

MAKILING:

“Makiling has many stories, many faces. She is an enchantress, a forest, a mountain, a guardian. She is love devoted, love all-powerful, love betrayed. She is rippling water and whispering trees and the sigh of the wind.”

PAGBABAGO

“Pagbabago (change) in black baybayin, accented with red, magenta, two shades of blue, and gold ink. This artwork symbolizes Jacinto & Lirio as a socially oriented brand whose goal is to drive change for the better.”

“I love the curves of baybayin, how the letters echo and play off each other. How very expressive they are, and how well they lend themselves to thick, luscious lines,” said Mia Sereno.

 

ADARNA

“A firebird version of the adarna juxtaposed against bat-like aswang wings done in colors inspired by the dragonfly. Watercolor pencil was initially used to add tooth and grain, on top of which watercolor was overlaid to emphasize the colors. Minimal spatter added for texture,” said Mia Sereno.

ALIBATA

PLAIN CHOCO BROWN

 

PLAIN CRIMSON RED

 

WHAT’S INSIDE : 

2 slots for paper bills, 6 card holders, 1 key holder, 1 coin purse with zipper closure, mobile and cord storage, 1 name card holder, 3  slots (can be used for passport, boarding pass, tickets and other paper holder), 1 pen holder

OPEN DATE PLANNER: Monthly, Weekly, Notes

 

But what exactly is Jacinto and Lirio, and what has it done so far to fulfill its goal of making sustainable fashion a trend in the country?

READ ABOUT THEIR INSPIRING JOURNEY AND ADVOCACIES ON THE NEXT PAGE!