Suppose you’ve visited the Philippines before and have fallen in love with the beautiful woven bags, laptop sleeves, wristlets, and wallets offered by the local artists. In that case, you probably wonder where to buy it without spending on expensive shipping costs.
The good news is that Haraya – a shop founded by Filipinos in the US – now brings intricate woven products to the United States.
Now, you don’t have to look far for authentic, handmade woven products from the Philippines.
Here are a few tips if you’re planning to splurge on banig fashion pieces.
Points to Remember When Buying Banig Bags and Accessories in the United States
When buying your favorite woven accessory, you should not immediately jump the gun on almost every product you see online.
You can make a few simple steps to ensure that you’re getting your money’s worth. Doing a thorough check before closing the deal, do a quality check on the woven bags on your radar.
Keep this checklist in mind when buying Philippine-made woven bags and accessories in the US.
Check If It’s Handmade
When you search for woven accessories and bags online, claiming they are from the Philippines, you will see many options. Although more and more artists are producing top quality banig bags and accessories, sellers are putting up machine-made straw bags and accessories for sale.
Why is it essential that you check if the product you found online is a hundred percent handmade? It’s because handmade banig products are significantly more durable and long-lasting than machine-produced ones.
How do you tell if the banig and straw accessories sold in a US shop are handmade?
First, you can check the weaving. Usually, handmade woven bags or sleeves show matching patterns, unlike the sloppy ones you can find on machine-produced products.
Second, you can check the feel of the bags. Most mass-produced woven accessories can feel plasticky because natural raw materials don’t always thrive best on machines.
Lastly, you can check the story of the shop you’re buying from. Sellers of handmade, authentic Philippine-made woven products proudly disclose where the products are from and who made them.
Ask Who Made the Products – As Much As Possible, Patronize Options That Local Artisans Make
If you’re all about helping thriving local artists from the Philippines and you want nothing more than buying picks that will help these artisans, you can ask sellers directly.
You can also check their story and their advocacies. Shops selling imported woven fashion pieces from the Philippines are tied up with a community of local artists.
When you buy from a shop that sells products crafted by traditional artisans, you’re elevating your style and helping an industry bloom.
Check for Functional Features
When deciding where to buy woven products in the US, come up with a list of functional features that you consider “non-negotiable.” Listing down the features that are important to you can save you from spending on something – even a breathtaking woven bag – that you can’t use.
There’s always a big possibility of you coming across products that are pretty but aren’t compatible with your lifestyle. Before finalizing the buy, check if the handmade woven laptop sleeve, tablet bag, or wallet you have set your eyes on will deliver.
Check out one of Haraya’s most functional woven laptop sleeves here.
Assess the Design
If you have seen the traditional woven bags sold in the Philippines, you might have noticed how extravagant they are regarding colors, patterns, and design.
Although there are striking options in US online fashion stores, it also helps if you assess the design and decide if it will fit your needs. If you’re going to use your woven banig bags and laptop cases to work, check if the design of the option you’re checking fits your dress code.
You can rock woven fashion accessories without running into trouble at work or at school!
Think of Its Aesthetics and How It Looks Style-Wise
Yes – woven products in the US don’t fall behind in style. In fact, more and more people are incorporating woven accessories into their fashion looks.
To make the most out of your purchase, check for a woven fashion accessory’s overall aesthetics.
Does the woven bag you love match your style brand? Does your banig wallet amplify the style that you are known for?
Online shops selling banig products in the US now feature fashion-forward banig bags and wallets that can compliment any style – you just have to make sure you find the one that matches you well.
Find Out About the Materials Used and How Durable The Product Is
Woven wallets, bags, and fashion accessories are often made from two of the most durable raw materials: tikog and buri.
Tikog is a dried reed grass popular for its incredibly durable composition. This raw material is used locally in the Philippines as the prime material for banig mats and banig market bags that can carry pounds of content! The weavers of Basey, Samar – where Haraya’s products are from – use tikog in their creations.
Another option is the buri – a matured, dried material from palm leaves. When weaved and interlaced with other leaves, buri is a formidable material. You can expect your buri and tikog bags to last a long time. Bags and accessories made from these materials are 100% worth the money.
Find Authentic, Handmade Woven Bags, Laptop Sleeves, and Wallets in The US at Haraya!
Founded by local Filipino artists based in Texas, Haraya aims to feature more beautiful banig fashion pieces to the world.
Sourced all the way from a weaving community in Samar, you can be guaranteed that the straw and woven pieces you buy from Haraya are guaranteed handmade, durable, and style-worthy.
Haraya’s advocacy is fashion with a heart – with every handwoven bag and style accessory you buy from this humble store, you extend help to the inspiring local artisans in the Philippines.
