You see it all the time – pockets of brilliance resonating, vibrating as attempts to preserve one's culture and tradition is displayed, promoted, only to fade again and again.

Not so, if the mother and daughter team, Mae Braceros Alcantara and her daughter Carmaela, would have their way. And their way is to fuse the old with the new, the traditional with the new technology. They would adapt the lore of processing natural fibers like abaca, pandan, silk, and bamboo and fine tune handloom weaving with intricate beadwork – all labor intensive, time consuming, and dedicated.

Crystal Seas, owned by the Alcantaras, is the name of the preservator whose aim is to make a sustained attempt to promote Mindanao culture by making it fashionable. The goal is to highlight the fact that weaving is an intricate, meticulous, and proud tradition.

Visit Crystal Seas Handwoven and Handcrafted Products and feel proud to be Filipino.

Other Featured Products