How we do our hand-woven fabrics at Narda’s

At Narda’s, we plant our own dye materials at our farm in Benguet.

Narda’s farmers harvest, sun-dry & break or pulp the raw plant materials. When they’re used, we use them to fire our wood stoves.

Narda’s dye experts boil the pulped or chopped raw materials to let the dye agent out. Then they strain the liquid until there’s no residue for an even dye.

Narda’s dyers fix our locally sourced cotton yarns.

Then Narda’s dyers soak the yarns in the dye, turning and untangling to assure that every single yarn is evenly dyed.

Narda’s dryers dry them out of direct sunlight.

After the yarns are dried, Narda’s warpers spool the warp yarn according to thread counts and pattern designs.

Narda’s heddlers mount the heddles on their harnesses as weavers spin the weft yarns. When the heddles are secured, beamers mount the warp yarns on the back beam.

And the most crucial part of hand weaving begins. Mounting and counting the warp yarns as per pattern design. Every single thread is inserted by hand through the heddles and through the reed. One by one! By hand! Hand weaving is hard, right? And actual weaving is still yet to begin!    

This is the “fun” part you’re familiar with: throwing the weft yarn shuttle. Yet, it’s not! Shuttle yarns are continually checked for tangles in the shuttle. Spinning additional weft rolls if necessary. Warp yarns are checked and brushed for tangles to assure even and smoother fabric. Narda’s craftswomen and men do it best in the region.

Our expert Cordilleran mother weavers make it look so easy. But it’s not! Your continued support will make our hand weaving tradition live on for generations to come.