Google “water hyacinth” and you’ll find out it’s an environmental headache, a clogger of water systems that multiplies very quickly; bringing down the oxygen level in the water where it thrives, leaving the area’s aquatic biodiversity devastated.
Good thing Filipino artisans have found a way to get it out of our lakes and into our bags, slippers and home decor. The creative partnership of Rita Nazareno and Gabby Lichauco, however, recently had the material crossing over from traditional souvenir shop staple to designer cool. One example is the Zacarias 1925 Skateboard in handwoven water hyacinth.
It’s not exactly a skateboard for riding but let’s just say it’s still bound to take you places—designing it took Nazareno to her younger days after all. “Gabby and I - through our Nazareno/Lichauco partnership -wanted to translate into contemporary craft and design some sports that were nostalgic to us: from skateboarding (I used to skateboard when I was a kid), to biking (Gab is a biker), ping pong, paddling, surfing and even duckpin bowling,” the designer tells ANCX. “We were able to produce pieces through our collaboration with Citem and other Philippine companies such as E.Murio and WeaveManila.”
The skateboard was part of these collaborative projects and they were able to produce a variety of hand-woven boards in wicker, water hyacinth and chaircane. Some are available at the Asian Art Museum shop in San Francisco, and some through @Zacarias1925, the heritage brand Nazareno grew up with and now runs. It retails for P15,000 locally.
“I envision it as a wall piece that takes one back to one’s childhood as well as give a contemporary take on Philippine craft,” Nazareno says of her boards. “They’re cool gifts to skateboarders, no?” We agree. And a brilliant proof, too, that one man’s pest can be another man’s wall art.
[Images courtesy of Rita Nazareno]