Brass armband: Paddle

This paddle-designed armband which can also be worn as a bangle is handcrafted by a community of brass jewelry makers in Mailum, Negros Occidental.
 
Each batch takes at least 2 weeks to create by hand, by artisans comprised of housewives, mothers, out-of-school youth, and sakadas (sugarcane farmers) who have been significantly impacted by the pandemic--and will benefit from every purchase.
 
The month of August is considered off-season in the sugarcane farming industry where most of the community members work hence they have been previously engaged to make brass jewelry, to augment their daily needs. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected their livelihood due to the decline in economic and tourism activities in their province as well as in their neighboring retailers.