La Likha turns Filipino textiles into sustainable furniture

Traditional Filipino textiles are finding a place beyond fashion as architecture and furniture studio La Likha incorporates locally woven fabrics and Philippine-made nonwoven materials into contemporary furniture, demonstrating how local craftsmanship can support sustainable design.

The furniture brand La Likha was established in March as the furniture design arm of Licup Architects, with the goal of combining architecture, functionality, and Filipino cultural heritage through locally sourced materials, La Likha founder and architect Zion Enrico R. Licup said in an interview with BusinessWorld.

“We wanted to create contemporary furniture using Filipino textiles,” he said, adding that his interest in traditional fabrics such as Yakan weaving inspired the venture.

According to Mr. Licup, the concept first emerged from an office project in Marikina City where the firm explored integrating Filipino textiles into furniture. It later collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), combining handwoven fabrics from local weaving communities with the institute’s nonwoven banana fiber.

The banana fiber serves as the furniture’s backing layer, while traditional woven textiles remain the visible upholstery.

Mr. Licup said the collaboration supports the firm’s broader commitment to sustainability, noting that the construction sector contributes significantly to global carbon emissions.

“We want our textiles to come from local materials that are biodegradable. Instead of relying on conventional materials that take many years to decompose, banana fiber has the potential to break down naturally,” he said.

Beyond its environmental benefits, banana fiber also offers greater flexibility than conventional foam, making it suitable for curved furniture designs. However, because of its coarse texture, the material is currently used only as an interior layer rather than an exposed seating surface.

“That’s why we only use it as backing,” he said, expressing hope that future innovations would make the material smoother and suitable for wider applications.

Furniture development begins with form-finding and ergonomic studies before La Likha works directly with weaving communities, including artisans in Basilan, to secure permission to incorporate their textiles into its designs.

The furniture is manufactured in Pampanga using locally sourced wood, steel, upholstery, and stitching materials, reflecting the company’s commitment to minimizing the environmental impact of imported products.

According to Mr. Licup, one challenge was preventing banana fibers from separating during production. The team addressed this by bonding the fibers to woven textiles before fabrication, creating a more stable material for furniture-making.

He added that nonwoven textiles could eventually be used beyond furniture, including in acoustic panels, partitions, lighting installations, and other interior applications.

“So far, we’ve made around 50 to 60 chairs and sofas,” he said, noting that La Likha currently offers three furniture designs for sale through its online platforms.

The architect credited DOST-PTRI’s research and development efforts for exposing designers to locally developed alternatives to conventional materials.

“If we hadn’t discovered what PTRI was doing, we would have continued using conventional foam,” he said. “It’s good that the research is becoming applicable to the furniture design industry.”

La Likha plans to showcase its products at Artifino later this month and is targeting participation in Manila FAME this year.

The architect also called for stronger government support for local designers through expanded exhibition opportunities, research initiatives, and seed funding programs.

“Exhibitions are very expensive for small businesses,” he said. “Government support through partnerships, linkages, and funding programs would help local furniture designers grow.”

He added that Filipino textiles should be recognized not only as symbols of heritage or wearable materials but also as functional materials that can drive innovation in furniture and interior design. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba