Happy New Year!

 

Such a strange thing to say given so much has already happened in the last few weeks: Typhoon Odette rampaged through the central islands of the Philippines; meanwhile in Manila, a record-breaking surge in COVID19 cases that did not spare our own team. In fact, we're on a health break until the 16th of January.

 

But as we typically do at the beginning of each year - especially as we quarantine and isolate –  we take a step back  and we look at the year that was from a wider lens. 

 

2021 brought us both opportunities and challenges and we bring both to memory. 

It was a year of risk-taking for us… the year we stepped out of the newness of COVID19 and into to a world that was trying to live with the pandemic. But it was also a year of growth.

 

In 2021, and on our fifth year, we wanted to tell our story as WVN Living, signifying the shift to a lifestyle that integrates our Philippine living traditions into our everyday lives. (See what we did there?) It was a milestone year for us because we also launched our website, which you so warmly welcomed! At the same time, we finally expanded our team and space.

We found opportunities to visit our partner artisan community in La Union again after a year of not being able to see them. They are our raison d'être and our source of energy. They have kept us going all throughout these years despite the obstacles.

 

 

We forged more partnerships both locally and internationally – from support organizations to business partnerships.  We have been so encouraged by them because we take them as signs of confidence in us and the quality of our products.

 

Finally, thank YOU, our community, who have journeyed with us these last five years. It is a godsend that we got this far and for that we are truly grateful for your support, belief and love. 

 

Building an online community is challenging! We miss seeing all of you face to face like we used to. But your engagement with us – whether commenting, purchasing, leaving reviews, sharing your wonderful stories with our weaves, recommending us to your friends – not only warms our hearts but helps us be better.

 

With you, we were able to: raise funds that supported families in La Union and Leyte in the aftermath of natural disasters; directly help the artisans with their floating blanket inventory; and send handmade bears to kids in different parts of the country.

 

 

We recognize all these small wins and plant seeds of gratitude. 

 

Though the start of the year has been tough, we look forward to what 2022 has in store for us, especially knowing that we've got all of you by our side.