It’s a funny coincidence that something I’ve been obsessing about, and something involved the hot topic du jour, both have something in common. And that is: the humble banig.

I’ve blogged about why I love the concept for the Department of Tourism’s newest campaign, and I’ve gotten in on the fun myself. But one more thing I’m digging about this campaign is the use of banig weave for the logo.

Banig weaves are graphic, colorful and truly our own. Used sparingly, in a clean and modern context, they finally have a chance to escape the land of cliché.

Banig pillowcase from SM Kultura

I’ve been looking at our homegrown floor covering with new eyes. The revelation occurred when I spotted an array of bright plastic banigs at The Kitsch Kitchen, a quirky, colorful store along Amsterdam’s Rozengracht. I thought to myself “That’s brilliant!” and berated myself for not thinking of bringing one from home.

Not wanting to pay European prices for a Pinoy product, I decided to bide my time until my trip home to Manila for the holidays. “What do you want for Christmas?” my mom and sister asked me. “Pwedeng bayong? Yung gawa sa banig,” I replied. They were dubious. “Yun lang talaga?”

It was a gift request that was too easy to ignore. So I was happy to receive a clean, unadorned extra-large woven basket from my sister. And when my MIL sent me her Christmas gift in a banig bag dotted with fuschia and emerald green, the packaging was immediately marked for reuse.

I scored more banig bargains from the ever-reliable SM Kultura, such as this small fan woven with neons and acid brights. Not that it ever gets that hot in Amsterdam… but you never know).

My favorite buy was this purple and pink banig mat that packs flat, but with some buttoning up at the corners, transforms into a bread basket.

Since bread is off limits at home (low-carb diet in progress!), I’ve repurposed this nifty basket into storage for my current projects. It makes it easier (and prettier) to organize my sewing and knitting materials, and carry them from room to room if needed.

Freelance writer Deepa Paul-Plazo lives in Amsterdam with her husband and cat. She travels, dabbles in creative pursuits, and swings wildly between having way too much and not enough free time. Follow her Amsterdam adventures on her blog (currystrumpet.blogspot.com) or on Twitter (@currystrumpet).