Soli & Sun

Pinya pouches, Pinya clutch bag and Anya bags are all handmade by three women in a small workshop in Davao, Philippines. The Inabel fabric used in the Pinya pouch & clutches is handwoven by a 74-year-old Corazon Agosto, a skilled artisan from Ilocos, Philippines. The Piñatex (vegan alternative to leather) used in these pieces is an innovative natural textile made from pineapple leaf fibre. The leaves are the by product of existing agriculture, and their use creates an additional income stream for farming communities in the Philippines.

The chain handles of the Anya bags are hand woven by a group of female artisans from Tacloban, Philippines. Clare teaches them different hand crafting techniques and these stay at home mothers are able to create and work from home, earning a sustainable income without having to leave their families.

The Meghan clutch bags are made from T’nalak fabric which is an indigenous fabric handwoven by the T’boli people of lake Sebu, Mindanao, Philippines. This culturally rich community has a unique language and traditions. T’nalak weaving is a way of life for most of the T’boli women, handed down from generation to generation. This type of craftsmanship has given the T’boli women economic freedom and a sustainable source of income.

The Natalie bag is also made with the T’nalak fabric with a traditional Filipino Solihiya weave hand-crafted on top. The large brass clasps on this clutch bad and the Meghan bag are also hand-crafted in Mindanao, by a husband and wife team. And both these bags are assembled in a small workshop in Mindanao.

All the chains and finding used in the bags and my jewellery are sourced from my supplier Albert Gao in Shanghai, China. Claire was able to meet with Albert regularly when she lived in China
and has worked with him for the last 6+ years. She sources some other supplies for her jewellery from South Korea and the wooden beads are sourced from Cebu, Philippines.