From rope to runway: PhilFIDA’s plans for abaca revival

Earlier this week, I attended a very exclusive fashion show held at the National Museum of Fine Art.

- 

The Old Senate Session Hall, from whose three walls hang the 1964 Botong Francisco mural "Filipino Struggles Through History" became the backdrop for the Philippine Textiles Fashion Show organized by the Department of Agriculture's Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) in collaboration with different individuals and organizations including fashion director Robbie Carmona and the Masda Aw collective, who held an exhibit of their Kalinga natural dyeing workshop in the space outside the Senate Hall.

"What's good with this event is it's not just one designer. It's a collaboration of really good designers," said PhilFIDA executive director Arnold "Ali" Atienza.

Designers Rajo Laurel, Rian Fernandez, and Mags Cue as well as De La Salle-College of St. Benilde FDM Alumni designers Dom Aquio, Hannah Barrera, Gabriel Buenabajo, Joshua Chiong, Sarah Cornejo, Lance Rubio and Kristina Marie Mariano showcased creations made from Philippine fibers, giving special highlight to abaca.

"We really want to revive [Philippine textile]. We have so many natural resources. Abaca, for example, which we were featuring, we're only utilizing, what, 10 percent of what we have," Atienza said.

The event was graced by international agricultural ministers and the First Lady herself.