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Cool travel essential:
text and photos by kara santos

f a s h i o n / p r o d u c t r e v i e w
One of my favorite accessories while on the road has got to be
multipurpose headwear, a seamless piece fabric that can be worn in
many ways. I have a growing collection of this at home and always
make sure to pack a few for any trip, whether it’s a quick getaway out
of town or a long haul flight.
The nifty accessory has so many uses that come in handy for
different activities. It can be worn as a bandana, scarf, headband,
wristband, dustmask, tube top and even a skirt! I’ve used this as a mask
when travelling through dusty roads, as a blindfold when sleeping on
the plane and as a balaclava under my motorcycle helmet. It makes a
perfect instant handkerchief for wiping up sweat in any situation when
worn around the wrist. I’ve found that it can even work as a towel in a
pinch because of its absorbent nature.
HeadWare is a Philippine-based company that specializes mainly
on this product. According to Richie Bautista, Marketing Manager for
HeadWare, what sets HeadWare apart from similar products in the
market are their lively designs, affordability, and high quality.
The material HeadWare uses is made of 100% polyester
microfiber that keeps people cool and dry by wicking away sweat from
their body so it’s ideal for outdoor activities. This ensures that less skin
irritation occurs compared to using a bandana or similar products. It
even offers ultraviolet protection to boot, so wearing it can protect you
from the sun’s rays.
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It’s really elastic, and I’ve also noticed how it doesn’t stretch out of
shape unlike the cheaper varieties available in bazaars.
“We have a lot of designs to choose from. We also partner with
local artists to showcase their work,” says Bautista.
HeadWare offers a range of designs and patterns that would fit
any personality and some people even use it as a fashion statement.
Yoga enthusiasts gravitate towards the designs in bright tie-dye while
bikers prefer the rugged black and white prints with skull and flame
designs. HeadWare comes in bright cheery floral designs for girls and
no-nonsense prints for guys. They even have fun cartoon-based designs
in junior sizes for active kids.
HeadWare even channels Pinoy Pride in some of their cultural
designs like Tinalak, Alibata and the Philippine flag. The Tinalak is
patterned after the T’boli indigenous tribe’s traditional woven fabric.
Meanwhile, the Alibata design displays the traditional Tagalog script
used during the 13th to 19th century in white and red font on a black
background. The Limited Edition design Banig by Dan Matutina mimics
the woven patterns of abaca mats in varied shades of brown.
Some Limited Edition designs also feature the work of local
artists like “Musings” by Jing Turalba, which resembles a calligraphic
sketch in black, white and red, and the black and white “Sneaker
Pimping”, showcasing the quirky graffiti-like drawings of Nelz Yumol of
WeeWillDoodle, a group of Filipino artists known for their street art.

Unlike other products that come from
other countries that are more expensive,
HeadWare is a local company, so the products
are more affordable. While the company is
still relatively new, having began distribution
only in March 2010, HeadWare is already an
accessory of choice for many travelers and
athletes. It’s become a staple in running events
and triathlons and you’ve probably come
across people wearing it in surfing,
mountaineering or other outdoor
adventures.
“TV Personality Rovilson Fernandez,
actress and Amazing Race participant Jess
James and Born to Be Wild host and former
Survivor contestant Kiko Rustia are just a few
celebrities seen sporting HeadWare in their
active lifestyle,” adds Bautista.
f a s h i o n / p r o d u c t r e v i e w
Author wearing
Headware
HeadWare is available in numerous
stores here in the country, and vendors as far
as Bali, Indonesia and Australia, have stockedup
on these cool items.
And while they are a business, they also
have worthwhile partnerships with various
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f a s h i o n / p r o d u c t r e v i e w
groups. Limited edition design was produced
for environmental rights group Greenpeace
and sold at P350 per piece. The multipurpose
green and white headgear bearing
environmental icons was specially designed
by Greenpeace volunteer Becky Lagunsad
and is helping in the non-profit group’s
fundraising efforts. The donation was made in
kind and Greenpeace gets a 100% share in
the proceeds of the sale of this limited edition
design.
For large events, organizers can even
have their own customized designs printed by
the HeadWare for a minimum order of 300
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pieces. It makes a really cool giveaway for any
sporting event. Even schools and corporate
clients have turned to this useful item instead
of giveaway t-shirts and mugs for their
company and school events. With its multiple
uses, this cool accessory will surely be used
long after an event is over and keep your head
cool while on the road.
For inquiries contact HeadWare at
1852 Asuncion Street, Bgy. Valenzuela,
Santiago Village, 1208 Makati City,
Philippines. Tel. 8993226. For more
information, email order@theheadware.com
or visit www.theheadware.com.
Flag and Alibata