DAVAO CITY Sept. 2 (PIA)- Last August 28, retailing giant SM has opened a craft shop to highlight the works of local craftsmen.

The caravan named as My City, My SM, My Crafts is a showcase of traditional arts and crafts mixed with touches of contemporary Philippine design.

The August 28 launch located at the specially constructed booth at the atrium of SM City Davao Annex wing featured four local craft makers- Tadeco Livelihood and Training center which makes crafts out of abaca and banana fiber; Crystal Seas makers of handwoven fabrics embellished with pearls; Yvette’s Bags and Bead Collection makers of crocheted plastic straw bags and Maria 

Vinecraft which transforms the common Bago-Bago vines into home furnishings.

Apol Legario, Public Relations Officer of SM City Davao said the craft shop is a venue for local artisans to show their products. Aside from the four exhibitors during the launch, they will be joined by five other exhibitors namely; Bagobo-Tagabawa School of Living Tradition, Magnegosyo Ta Day, Pablo Crafts, Davao Ecocrafts and Salinta Monon.

The project is partnership between SM and the Department of Trade and Industry with the support of the CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) and the NCCA (National Commission for the Culture and the Arts).

Davao City is the fourth leg of the caravan. It earlier visited the SM malls in Sta Rosa, Laguna, Lucena in Quezon Province and in Batangas City, Batangas. The Davao leg will run from August 28 to September 4 afterwhich it will proceed to SM Cagayan de Oro then General Santos. The craft shop will make a return to Davao when it will visit SM Lanang Premiere.

Legario added that aside from the shop, workshops were also conducted among the beneficiaries of the craft-making workshop were the recipients of MagNegosyo Ta Day- a flagship project of former Mayor Sara Duterte which aims to capacitate women in communities with livelihood programs in crafts-making.

The recipients of MagNegosyo Ta Day exhibited handicrafts like beaded accessories to crocheted bags and coco shell home decors.

Another exhibitor were a group composed of out-of-school-youths from typhoon Pablo devastated communities who were taught by the Tourism Office of the Compostela Valley Provincial Government to carve stones and craft wood products.

Other exhibitors include the Bagobo- Tagabawa School of Living Tradition and Salinta Moon one of the few Bagobo weavers left.

Legario said the exhibitors had received inquiries from prospective clients. She said the selected exhibitors which represented the best handicraft makers locally are free from paying rent for the retail space.

Legario invited the public to visit the craft shop and see for themselves the various handicrafts consisting of fashion accessories and home furnishings made by indigenous and local artisans. (PIA/RG Alama)