GOVPH

The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), in collaboration with Pangasinan State University – Lingayen Campus and DOST Region I, has officially launched the very first Handloom Weaving Innovation Hub in Sitio Mapita, Aguilar, Pangasinan.

Fabric, one of humanity’s oldest and most essential materials, is a versatile planar structure made from yarns or directly from fibers. While weaving and knitting remain the most common methods of production, other techniques—such as braiding, felting, and bonding—continue to shape the diversity of global textiles.

Weaving has traditionally been done using a loom, where lengthwise threads known as the warp are stretched. Crosswise threads, called the weft or filler, are then interwoven under and over the warp. The way these threads interlock creates the weave.

Yarn is the fundamental element in woven, knitted, braided, netted, and lace fabrics, with its properties shaped by the characteristics of the fibers and how they are assembled. The type of yarn used plays a key role in determining how a fabric performs during wear, washing, or dry cleaning, making it essential for both the functionality and durability of the final textile.