This season marks the end of our first year of operating our network of retail stores in the Philippines. We want to take this moment to thank all of you for the continued support of AKABA.

 

Since we began our journey, our team has grown our network of artisans from a meager 3 weavers from Gawad Kalinga Namnama Village, Ilocos Norte, to a network of over 100 weavers from twelve different communities from all over the Philippines. Working with AKABA guarantees fair pricing, educational assistance, and, for some communities, provision for healthcare. All of these would not be possible without you.

 

In our many travels to different communities, we have come to realize the potential of our brand to empower even more underprivileged sectors such as craft makers, farmers, artists, and other community-based micro-enterprises. We have also taken further steps to augment the skills and income of weaving communities by setting up bag production facilities in the outskirts of Marawi City, and conducting design and manufacturing workshops in Kalinga through the generosity of donors in the private and public sectors.

 

We believe this progressive move forward will further grow our social impact.

 

Creating jobs and value to communities is just the first step in realizing our dream of uplifting the Philippines. With you, we were able to grow our production capacity, and achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency. This means that we can produce more products by creating more jobs, without affecting the income of our stakeholders and employees. A much wider network of weavers also means a sustainable and reliable supply chain, ensuring that handwoven fabrics are available all year round. The next step in our vision is providing an accessible and affordable platform for Filipinos to support quality, stylish, and fair-trade Filipino products.

 

In the following weeks, you may notice significant changes in our social enterprise.

First, we are introducing water repellant fabric to replace the cotton canvas we use for our bags for better functionality.

 

Next, we will be introducing other product categories such as food, beverages, essential oils, homeware, and fashion, with the goal of expanding our social impact by introducing AKABA products to other facets of your daily routine.

 

Finally, we will be rolling out new designs, together with our classic collections at much lower prices. We believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to support and own world-class, locally made products. This is on top of special Christmas promotions that we will be launching in our stores by the end of the week.

 

We are excited for what lies ahead, and we are happy to know that we have you to share that journey with. All of our goals move towards creating a sustainable, fair, and inclusive economy in the Philippines, and we have nobody else to thank but you. Rest assured, you have our commitment to continue growing our impact while providing quality products that are proudly Filipino.

 

Keep weaving, keep dreaming.

 

 

EJ Isada Mariano