THE popularity of macramé is slowly growing as people are seeing the bigger picture of its potential. With its rustic and earthy vibe, it has become a conversation piece—a stately addition complementing one’s home and lifestyle essentials.
Apol Pie Colmenares’ fascination with the craft began in second grade, making friendship bracelets with her best friend. Last January 2019, she turned her passion into a venture by creating a brand: Lopa handmade.
“When I was renovating my room, I wanted to put up a nice wall hang. I searched for some macramé for sale. At that time, most artists selling it were from overseas. I found a couple here in the Philippines but they were all over my budget. I got this idea to create my own macramé wall hang from scratch and at a cheaper cost,” she said. “It was an exciting project for me. My boyfriend and friends loved it and I started getting suggestions to sell them.”
Lopa carries a charming range of fashion and homeware products such as bags, earrings, wall hangings, key chains, leash for pets, yoga mat holders, straps, coasters, plant hangers, bookmarks, and baby stuff like baby teether and pacifier clips.
Colmenares shared that the designs, specifically her wall hangings, are one-of-a-kind inspired by her travels. Paired with her personalized touch, she shared that all products can be customized to the patrons’ liking from patterns, sizes and hooks to colors and wood.
Most of all, she shared that her creations are eco-friendly from the product itself to the packaging, with materials sourced both locally and internationally. “I will continue to be in search for local artisans to partner with and hopefully in the future we will be able introduce more product designs,” she said.
“Lopa’s handmade macramé is made with love. Every knot and twist to create a design comes with dedication, pride and most of all, time.”
More than continuing her craft, she hopes to introduce it to the community and show the many ways it can be incorporated into one’s lifestyle essentials. Lopa handmade accepts inquiries online through its Instagram and Facebook pages.