In an initiative to support local businesses in Eastern Samar, the provincial government invited concessionaires to showcase their products in this year’s Christmas in the Capitol Bazaar.
Among the local business owners who took the opportunity is Hannah Alferez, a crochet artist and owner of Hook Up Crocheting Services.
According to Hannah, her journey with the hook started when she learned how to crochet in their technology and livelihood education class in sixth grade.
In high school, she gathered old plastic bags, cut them into thin strips, and practiced her stitches because she didn’t have the money to buy her own yarn.
During the pandemic, while in college, she started making lanyards and alcohol holders with a ₱500 capital from her scholarship.
Her breakthrough came when she got orders for customized crochet flowers for Valentine’s Day.
As she gained more experience and clients, she began to venture into other crafts, from keychains and bags to hats, plushies, and clothes.
Since graduating, Hannah has focused on her passion and business.
After her first experience as a concessionaire at Surf City, she was recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
This opened doors for her to participate in regional and national trade fairs supported by the agency. Her craftsmanship has also earned the attention of clients, most notably Gov. RV Evardone.
Gov. Evardone commissioned a customized plushie from Hannah during a DTI trade fair in Manila last month.
Hannah personally handed the finished piece to the governor when he visited her booth to show his continued support for local entrepreneurs.
This is not the first time that her craft has reached a notable public figure. She recalled being commissioned to create pink crochet flowers by a supporter of former Vice President Leni Robredo, which is now displayed in the Museo ng Pag-asa, alongside historic memorabilia from Robredo’s 2022 presidential campaign.
Now a mother of two, Hannah balances her family life and work with the help of a small, dedicated team of four, including her siblings and cousins.
For Hannah, the quality of every stitch is her top priority.
She takes immense pride in her work, noting that while a keychain might take only 10 minutes, larger items like clothes or plushies, depending on size, can take days, even weeks of careful labor.
Even as more crochet businesses pop up in the city, Hannah doesn’t see them as a threat.
Instead of viewing others as competitors, she sees an opportunity to meet like-minded people and share her expertise.
“Dire ko hira ginti-treat as competitors kasi pwede ko hira magin partner, kay syempre ini nga pag crochet handmade talaga hiya, so habang natikadako daman it market, dire ko kaya nga ako la. Importante daman it iba nga nagkro-crochet,” Hannah said.
While she already has a platform to connect with clients online through her Facebook page, she still takes every opportunity to participate in events like the Christmas bazaar because it provides her a chance to personally meet customers and be discovered by new clients.
