I have been wanting to blog about my own product since 2 years ago but I can’t find the right words to describe it. So much ideas but less and less time to really sit down and write about it.
Anyway, this is not only about Hammock Republic but also my own research about the culture and history of hammocks.
The Hammock History
First Users
Yanomami Tribe using hammocks in Brazil, Photo by Victor Englebert
Hammocks (or duyans) have been present thousands of years ago. The first users of “hamaca” (Spanish for hammocks) where the Inca tribes of South America for sleeping. Then sailors started using it because it was eerily to set up and very light and comfortable then soldiers used it in exchange of tents because it was easier and faster to set up and dismantle especially in the middle of combats. Since it is suspended from the ground, hammocks are safer to sleep in because of protection from insects and snakes lurking at night.
Like a Mother’s Cradle
Mother’s Cradle as natural hammock photo collection from Pinterest
Reflecting on hammocks, I once thought about the similarity of hammocks to a mother’s arms when carrying a newborn. The mother’s safe arms cradling the baby into a deep sleep, like in the womb where the baby sleeps gently curled up and the mother’s heart beat close for a restful sleep. This is why a hammock gives us images of peace, relaxation, safety and sound sleep. When we use hammocks, our primitive mind brings us to the time when we are safely asleep in our mother’s gentle cradle.
Around Southeast Asia
This is the caretaker’s hammock inside a cave in Northern Thailand. So much more comfy than a chair.
Traveling around Southeast Asia, I noticed that Cambodians, Thais, Laos and Indonesians use it too. They hang it everywhere and have hammock time during siestas. In the Philippines, go to any house in the province and you will see a duyan hanging inside the house made of fish net, rice sack or rattan especially for babies. Beach resorts and boutique hotels market their spaces with posh hammocks to project an image of unwinding.
Fishnet hammock in Northern Laos
How Hammock Republic Came Into Being?
Hammock Republic is born out of my love for hammocks. When I started to explore the mountains of the Northern Philippines, I noticed that the tribes have this hammock-type cradle they use to carry their babies so they can hand on their still work He brought his hammock everywhere he went to save on accommodation. Making him closer to nature since he would hang it on coconut trees under a blanket of stars with natural air-conditioning from the wind.
James with some hammock time somewhere in El Nido, Palawan
A lot of people asks him where to buy his hammock and this gave him the idea to produce his own brand with the travelers on mind.
He innovated “THE DUOYAN.” Duoyan is a play of the Filipino word “duyan” which means hammock adding the letter “o” to make it “duo” because is is dual use. It is not only a HAMMOCK, it is also TRAVEL NECK PILLOW.
You can check the online shop here:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/hammockrepublic/shop/
Because he is a minimalist, he created a hammock that I can also use even on plane and bus rides so no bag space is wasted. He then called it HAMMOCK REPUBLIC.
Hammock as Neck pillow on the airplane
April 2016, due to lots of customer requests of doing a hammock with bugnet, he launched the DUOYAN with Mosquito Net which sold like pancakes. After two month, the hammocks with net sales were better than the regular zip-on hammocks without net.
Hammock Republic continues to develop products for people who love camping and the outdoors. Now they have travel organizers, waterproofing tarps and sarongs.
You can check the online shop here:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/hammockrepublic/shop/
I love hammocks! I would love to have one in the future!
This is such an interesting read!