WORLD IKAT TEXTILES SYMPOSIUM (WITS)
Ties that Bind: Weaving a Defining Future
In Photos: Ms. Marie Venus Q. Tan, Co-Chair Creative Baguio City Council (CBCC) deliver opening program speech, Ifugao Intangible Heritage and Performing Arts Society (IHPAS) Kiangan, Ifugao, opening of the World Ikat Exhibition with Guests Curator’s Notes and Ribbon Cutting led by Ms. Marie Venus Q. Tan, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Rogue, DTI-CAR Regional Director Juliet P. Lucas, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, DOST-PTRI Director Julius L. Leaño, DOST-CAR Regional Director Nancy Bantog and DOT-CAR Regional Director Jovi A. Ganongan. Photo by: Mario Oclaman //Filipino News Sentinel
The World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) launched the first World Ikat Textiles Symposium (WITS) IN London, UK in 2016. An inaugural exhibition was also curated by Arch. Edric Ong, and Manjari Nirula at the Brunei Gallery in SOAS, London.
WITS covers the Asian countries, Autralia, and the South Pacific Islands, among others. The aim of WITS is to offer a common platform to celebrate this shared textile tradition which is found throughout the world. Its objectives are: (1) to inform and educate on various ikat traditions across the world, (2) to foster cross-cultural exchanges including issues that impact ikat communities and heritage preservation, (3) to develop connections among these ikat artisans, craft organizations, scholars and textile enthusiast.
Following the inaugural London event, further editions of WITS followed in Delhi, India and Kuching, .Malaysia (2017): Khon Kaen, Thailand (2018), and Jakarta, Indonesia (2019). After the lull brought by COVID-19, the organizers invited the Philippines to host this year’s annual WITS Baguio City’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art, and the Cordilleras’ rich ikat traditions made Baguio the perfect host for this year’s world-renowned textile event.
Ikat is a complex technique of resist-dyeing, which involves applying natural dyes to the yarn before weaving. Ikat came from the Malay word, mengkikat, which means “to tie, bind, or wind around”. The process of ikat weaving entails a tedious process; from harvesting of the abaca fiber, stripping the fibers into their finest finish, to gathering of natural plant-dye materials, boiling, dyeing, strapping the fabric. It takes days or even weeks to produce an ikat textile on a weaver’s backstrap and foot looms. At the end of the process, is an execution of the finest handwoven ikat.
What to expect at WITS Baguio from December 3 to 6, 2024 held at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center
Symposium features international speakers, scholars and weavers from various parts of the globe. Seven (7) plenary sessions and thirty-one (31) speakers with special participation of the weavers and artisans, and the National Living Treasures of the Philippines in the weavers dialogue.
Exhibition includes of the current travelling international collection, part of the previous editions of WITS, with a focus on Philippine ikat textiles. The exhibition will comprise of over 100 items of unique ikat traditions from more than 20 countries.
Gala Dinner and Fashion Show features both international and Philippines designers from the Cordillera and Mindanao. There will be ten (10) world renown featured designers inspired by ikat textiles in their collection.
Weave exchange and demonstrations demo workshops on ikat weaving, natural dyeing and weavers’ conversations at Narda’s Winaca Eco-Cultural Village. The workshops will feature ikat weavers, natural dyers, and artisans from the Philippines and the world.
Artisans Bazaar features a well-curated bazaar from around the world, including the handwoven ikat products from the Philippines.
With generous support from Office of the First Lady, Malacanang, Office of the Governor and Vice-Governor of Benguet, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCAA), Ms. Mercedes U. Zobel, Mr. Leonardo Rey S. Carino and Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts. # Mario Oclaman //FNS
