Jacinto and Lirio was founded in the summer of 2009 by five young Filipino entrepreneurs. They were part of an enterprise development minor in Ateneo de Manila University, and they had to create and implement a business. “We had a vision to elevate the standards of Philippine indigenous materials which lacked product development, and alleviate the poverty in communities which usually produce these materials,” Anne shared.
Baskets like the photo above are examples of products built from water hyacinth that the Jacinto and Lirio often produced before Jacinto and Lirio started collaborating with them. While they are beautiful in their own right, the material and the community had so much more potential to offer a more varied set of products to the market.
“Our search for the best product idea brought us to various places in the Philippines, including Laguna. Our research led us to various government agencies like DTI and DOST. From there, we encountered various livelihoods engaged in the handicrafts of water hyacinth. Through those trips, we learned that the plant is actually a pernicious invasive species that is capable of clogging up waterways with sheer overabundance. As a result of water hyacinth infestations, the livelihoods of fishermen in the Philippines, and even in other Southeast Asian regions, have been negatively affected. Bodies of water have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests.“
“Affected communities have made various initiatives, for the past years, to rid the waters of this plant and utilize them to create and sell native woven products. But there had to be something more than just weaving baskets and mats out of the plant. At last, we were introduced to this water hyacinth leather innovation by local innovators and it instantly amazed us. This is what you call Filipino Ingenuity. We saw the potential for the high-end fashion market. Hence, this led to the creation of Jacinto & Lirio which actually means “Hyacinth and Lily“.”
It’s amazing to see how something that used to be considered as a nuisance could be transformed into something so beautiful!
“The fashion industry (including that of the Philippines) is slowly but surely rethinking its work ethic. The industry is starting to reconsider the different sources of its textiles, keeping in mind the economic, environmental and social impacts. As a strong indicator of this change in paradigm, we see an increase in the application and visibility of alternative natural textiles such as bamboo, banana leaves, abaca and other similar materials. However, these textiles do not become icons by themselves—they need to be transformed by reputable designers who integrate the sustainable philosophy into their own designs,” Anne said.
SEE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ACTION ON THE NEXT PAGE!