Quezon City, Philippines – The Quezon City Government, in partnership with ANTHILL Fabric Gallery and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), officially opened the Circularity Hub in Barangay Payatas, marking a significant step forward in addressing textile waste while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.
The Circularity Hub is the first facility of its kind in the Philippines dedicated to textile waste upcycling. Designed as a one-stop center for circular production and community enterprise, the Hub transforms discarded textiles into high-value products while empowering women through skills development and income-generating opportunities.
The facility serves three key functions: a weaving and production center that upcycles textile waste, a training and capacity-building hub for artisans, and a marketplace where finished products can be showcased and sold.
At the heart of the initiative is community empowerment.
Twenty women from Barangay Payatas completed ANTHILL’s free foundational training on traditional handloom weaving. From this group, ten participants were selected to undergo advanced training, equipping them with specialized weaving and product development skills that can open pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
Beyond providing economic opportunities, the program also helps preserve and celebrate the country’s rich weaving traditions. By integrating indigenous craftsmanship into a modern circular economy model, the initiative demonstrates how cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and innovation can work hand in hand.
The launch was attended by key leaders and partners, including Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, ANTHILL Fabric Gallery Co-Founder and Managing Director Anya Lim, Maybank Philippines Corporate Affairs Head Edelyn Castro, PSFI Program Director Raiza Cusi, and Shell Energy Transition Manager Engr. Stanley Siahetiong, together with local government officials and community representatives.
In her remarks, Mayor Belmonte underscored the city’s commitment to reducing waste, creating green jobs, and building more inclusive and sustainable communities.
Representatives from ANTHILL shared the journey behind the Circularity Hub and highlighted how collaboration among local government, civil society, and private sector partners made the initiative possible. The Hub was conceived as a response to the growing challenge of textile waste while ensuring that communities remain at the center of the solution.
For PSFI, the initiative reflects its commitment to advancing sustainability through community-driven solutions. By supporting programs that promote circularity, resource efficiency, and inclusive economic participation, PSFI continues to help create opportunities that benefit both people and the environment.
Fully equipped with weaving looms, cutting machines, production workspaces, and a dedicated showroom, the Circularity Hub enables trained artisans to transform discarded clothing and surplus fabrics into new textiles, fashion accessories, and home products with renewed value and purpose.
The launch program also featured a Zero Waste Weaving Workshop, a Shell x ANTHILL product showcase, and a guided tour of the facility’s zero-waste production process. Notably, the walkthrough was led by the weaving graduates themselves, highlighting how beneficiaries have become advocates and practitioners of circularity within their own communities.
As textile waste continues to be one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, the Circularity Hub offers a practical and scalable solution that combines environmental action with social impact. By diverting textiles from landfills and transforming them into economic opportunities, the initiative contributes to a cleaner environment, stronger communities, and a more inclusive circular economy.
As operations begin, the Circularity Hub is envisioned not only as a center for production and learning, but also as a model that can inspire similar circular economy initiatives across the country, proving that waste can be transformed into opportunity when innovation, partnership, and community come together.
