Originally from a family of tailors, Lorilai learned to sew as a young girl and says that one of her greatest joys, even to this day, is sewing.

• She particularly enjoys hand-stitching! (which is perfect for stitching the details of our recycled billboard children’s backpacks!)
• When we visited Lorilai, she was a bit under the weather, so she wasn’t able to share a lot about her personal story… suffice it to say, she’s essentially a single mom (or at least the primary provider and caretaker of her family), and every peso she earns, she puts into family expenses and school fees.
• A truly courageous, warm, and authentic woman! We’re so happy to work with Lorilai and women like her!

As with many of our artisan women, Lorilai has had a difficult life journey, but that doesn’t stop her from beaming when we ask about her dreams and life goals.

• Her biggest dream is for her children to get a “great education.” In fact, Lorilai spends the bulk of her earnings on school fees. (In the Philippines, even public school is a financial burden for families as they have to purchase uniforms, supplies, etc.)
• Aside from providing her children with opportunities, Lorilai didn’t share a lot about her own personal dreams, and we thought it best not to delve too, too much into this area. Suffice it to say, she’s a woman who dreams of her children and giving them all the opportunities she didn’t have.

Working with GIANNA, Lorilai crafts children’s backpacks made of recycled billboard materials, and she beams when she tells us the difference we and fair trade make!

• Being able to work from home, often while her children are scattered on the floor of their one-room home, Lorilai appreciates the flexibility of home-based work.
• She’s able to combine her love for sewing with earning a living wage, and we can see when we meet her how much pride she takes in her work! It’s heart-warming to see Lorilai beam as she tells us about her work and shows us to her small sewing machine nestled into a corner of her home.
• It’s seeing women like Lorilai that we see our dreams realized! One woman is slowly lifting herself from poverty. And making a difference starts with one woman.