R’Bonney Gabriel (right) learns new techniques with the hand loom from Saori Philippines weaving trainer Becky Santiago (second from right) as weaver Jo Bernabe (left) and Vesti Bags designer Martha Rodriguez look on. Image: Armin P. Adina/INQUIRER.
net Filipino-American sustainable fashion designer and 71st Miss Universe winner R’Bonney Gabriel has been in the Philippines for months now, taking on hosting jobs and exploring the country’s fashion and culture. And she has gained new skills along the way, one of which is weaving indigenous fabrics. The beauty queen tried using two different hand looms at the Pinas Sadya pop-up store in Rockwell Center in Makati City when it opened on July 15 — one machine was a conventional type with pedals, while the other one was designed for individuals with disabilities and had hand-operated levers instead.
“You know it was easy to learn. I know I only did it a little bit, but I can definitely see it being very therapeutic. Because when I’m at home, sometimes I’m just sewing, and I just listen to music.
I could do that for hours and hours. And I think the same with a hand loom,” Gabriel told INQUIRER.net.
She will bring her finished fabric back to the United States to incorporate it into her design, but there is another thing that she wants to take home, the hand loom itself. “I would love to have one one day. I think it’s really cool.
I’ve tried it before, but I learned a new technique today,” Gabriel shared. R’Bon.