i was at baguio over the weekend
and had enough time to squeeze
in a trip to the narda's factory in
la trinidad, benguet.
one of the few looms on site. i'm not
even gonna begin to attempt to explain
the technicalities that go behind operating
one of these things. but, i will say that the
machine is most definitely ancient.
everything is done in-house. they
even dye their own thread. can
you believe that? WTF, right??
(that's what i said)
in 1970, a family-planning nurse
encouraged the local women of
benguet to start a knitting club to
keep them busy at a workshop
(so they don't get busy at home
and end up with nine kids and
no money to feed them).
-- fast forward to 2011 --
they do everything from home
furnishing to contemporary
fashion and accessories.
big boss woman, lady narda,
in the flesh. she's been runnin'
shit since the marcos regime,
people.
in conclusion. she's gangster.