CMO Paris
Shaped through rare craftsmanship
Nepalese hemp, bamboo, water lilies, yak wool… A passion for the finest natural fibres has led CMO to discover some excepcional materials. When coupled with ancestral techniques mastered by outstanding craftsmen, thei very essence is elevated. Each creation is entirely unique.
Searching for techniques that can’t be found elsewhere
The Island of Bohol in the Philippine Sea is imbued with na authenticity that is all too rare, offering na immersion in natural wilderness. Here, the lush nature produces buri, a material worked by na entire community of artisans.
For generations, these artisans have preserved rare, ancestral skills, from hand-weaving and braiding to techniques for harvesting and preparing the fibres.
Sustainable development
The choice of natural fibres is guided by a conscious approach to protecting the environment. The plants that yield the fibres have always been part of the landscape and the lives of the people who work with them. They are used responsibly: no deforestation, rapid regrowth, light trimming, etc.
The artisans
CMO travels the world to find techniques that can’t be found anywhere else. These rare forms of craftsmanship are informed by ancestral knowledge and give rise to exceptional pieces.
Working with extreme attention to detail and guided by past generations, the artisans create harmony by taming the rough natural fibres.
CMO foster close relationships with each of these small family-run units. Every artisan draws on their extensive know-how to master the materials and give voice to their imperfections.
Since the artisans must select the purest fibres, spin the materials, twist and then weave the threads, it is no surprise that it often takes an entire day to make one metre of fabric.
Gladys Veloso
I am Gladys Veloso and I’m 51 years old. In the year 2000, when I was 28 years old, I told my mother that I wanted to work for myself and to stand on my own. So I started my own hula skirt business. A year after that, I then came up with another business idea: the ‘Raffia Regulars’. I didn’t have any experience as a raffia weaver, so I just watched. That is why I’m working hard for the younger generation by teaching them how to tangkis (strip off the shoots).
Antonio Dumadapat
I’m Antonio, I’ve been cutting buri palms ever since I was 22, and I’m now 69 years old. We harvest buri palms every month, but never the same plant. We work area by area, harvesting as we pass by, because the buri palms bud once a month, during the first quarter of the moon. That way we’re safe from dangerous animals. No one else can cut this entire area, only us.
Artemia Kabilang
My name is Artemia Kabilang and I started working with the loom when I was 15 years old. When in good form, we can make thirty metres in ten days.
Maria Isabel Villamor
My name is Maria Isabel Villamor. I was 31 years old when I started this job. This is a buri shoot that hasn’t been worked on yet, and this is the result from one buri shoot. Buri palms have many uses; they can be used for weaving, but more importantly they are the main source of livelihood in this area.
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