Not just pretty clothes

Filipino designer Mara San Pedro fuses sustainability and heritage in global competition

- By JOHN ROLAND LEGASPI

For Mara San Pedro, fashion is more than something people use to cover their bodies. Each piece is a tool that helps paint a story—and in her case, the pieces she designs depict a tale of how sustainability and heritage can go hand in hand in building a more planet-friendly fashion industry.

That is something she brings to the Redress Design Award, an international competition for sustainable and circular fashion design.

Pursuing a career in fashion design was not something Mara had envisioned. However, what she shares with other creatives is the belief that design isa form of storytelling—one that can extend beyond personal level.

“This passion wasn’t always what I thought would drive my career,” Mara confessed. “But being able to create has given me the voice and space to express my ideas and identity freely.”

After completing a management degree at Ateneo de Manila University, Mara flew to the United Kingdom to study fashion design technology at the University of the Arts London-London College of Fashion. During her time as a student, she fell deeply in love with Filipino handwoven textiles, which she often used throughout her course.