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Belgian Lace and Embroidery at WUTHLE

WUTHLE Inc. is a project which turns bobbin lace-making and embroidery into a livelihood for women ex Hansenites (ex-lepers) and their skillful relatives. It stands for Women United Through Handcrafted Lace and Embroidery.
It all started with a birthday gift, in 1985 to a Belgian ICM Missionary Sister, Madeleine Dieryck, who was working for and among Hansenites at the Western Visayas Sanitarium in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. In gratitude, two young girls, both daughters of patients, gave her a self made, beautifully embroidered handkerchief. 

Seeing the possibilities here, Sr. Madeleine requested them to embroider some more as tokens of gratitude to benefactors. These works were so much appreciated that orders came in. These two girls taught other women ex Hansenites as well as their relatives. And so the project grew. 


In 1991, the attention of Sr. Madeleine went to many women, who, because of some deformities on their hands, could not hold a needle. While on home leave in Belgium, she learned how to make bobbin lace. Thus a new artistic skill opened new possibilities.
This livelihood project grew rapidly and in 1996 it became a corporation. At present, bobbin lace making and embroidery have become a valuable means of income to 50 women.
The product line at WUTHLE can be customized to the request of the customer in terms of materials, colors, size and design.  
For embroideries, they have birds, flowers and butterfly designs, among others, that are applicable to/as coasters, table cloths, handkerchiefs and bags. For the Belgian lace, they have lots of design to choose from ranging from the religious to the theme designs for Christmas and Easter among others.
They also combine embroidery and Belgian lace especially for wedding gowns and other dresses.  
The facility is open to the public as one can just watch how these simple threads are made into delicate works of art. It is now under the supervision of Sr. Gemma Abellana, ICM and Ms. Suzette Villan (the very first pupil of Sr. Madeleine in bobbin lace making)
W.U.T.H.L.E. Inc
PO Box 153 Western Visayas Sanitarium
Brgy. Inangayan, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo 5002
Philippines
Tel. Number +63 33 523-7894 Email at wuthle@yahoo.com
(Text taken from the WUTHLE brochure)

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