It's time to bring those design sketches to life!

Have you ever dreamed of wearing your own design? You have this eye for great style with a knack for illustration to match it to make that dream a possibility. But there's one problem, you don't know how to sew.

Sewing and garment-making, compared to designing, is often seen by many as a technical work rather than a creative one. But there is still artistry that lies in cutting fabric, working with a machine, and drafting patterns. There's precision in it and, without a doubt, it is the backbone of good design.

While not many can master it, there is still a way for you to see your vision, your sketches come to life. A bonus, it is sustainable and champions Philippine heritage, too.

Homegrown brand Northernlooms doesn't only do customize work. It wants you to send in your design and its team will craft it using abel, a local handloom textile commonly found in Vigan and the Ilocos region.

Abel or inabel, an Ilocano term for "weave," are usually made of cotton that are organically dyed and woven to create vibrant geometric patterns. Some of its designs are the brocade-like weave pinilian, the tie-dye ikat, and the binakul, a dizzying pattern to ward off evil spirits.

"Abel Yloco sometimes referred to as Abel Ylocos or simply Abel, is a form of weaving tradition native to the Ilocano people of Northern Luzon in the Philippines," the brand's Joanna Mae Miranda-Velas tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. "Northernlooms products are made by the women of the Ilocos Region. We provide people with an array of clothing, face masks, and fabric in a variety of traditional prints."

Established last July 2020, the fashion brand has been a way for local weavers to have a source of livelihood. It sources its textiles from Santiago, Ilocos Sur for its clothing production, and in La Union for its home furnishing products.

"We buy the handwoven fabrics from the weavers then turn them into clothing and other products," she says. "You can help us save this beautiful heritage by supporting our local products and their beautiful work of art."

As for the creation of the design, price starts at P2,000 for sleeveless tops and P3,500 for dresses. The cost changes depending on the design and other requests. To learn more about the brand, visit @northernlooms on Instagram.