Following the success of the virtual runway show titled “Fashion for Healing”, leading fashion show director Jackie Aquino once again brought viewers and designers together to highlight the importance and beauty of culture, creativity, and community as it relates to an economy that many consider being in crisis.

With the help of designers Gina Nebrida Ty and Carissa Cruz Evangelista, the crisis presented a potential and an opportunity to share the untold story of Filipino craftsmen and accessories designers in the country. Accessories were briefly deemed as “non-essential” during the pandemic, but these artists reminded the mass that there are artists behind accessory brands and just like any other products in the fashion scene are also in need of inside push and support from the industry.

Ty, the designer behind accessories brand Agsam Fashion Fern shared, “Like the rest of non-essential companies, we all struggled to keep our operations at bay.”

But having seen designer Amina Aranaz Alunan’s social media post about Fashion for Healing, Ty was immediately encouraged to contact Evangelista to resume talks of forming a group for creatives within the accessories industry. Ty also brought up the idea of creating a similar virtual show to uplift this specific group who were facing the same struggles. Thus, the Fashion Accessory Makers of the Philippines (FAMph) was born.

A total of 45 designers and brands from FAMph contributed to making “Fashion for Healing 2” happen. And the goal? To bring into light the narrative tucked behind the beautiful pieces of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, bags, shoes and rings that we normally see just on social media.

Bag and necklace by designer Ken Samudio
Clutch bag from Beatriz brand by designer Carissa Cruz Evangelista
Belts by Twinkle Ferraren
Tote bag from Aranaz brand by Amina Aranaz-Alunan

Evangelista who is the brains behind the designs of Beatriz Accessories said, “Jackie was kind enough to accommodate our request to help make a video to help our brands showcase our craft, weaving communities and artisans.”

Other than Ty and Evangelista, the show also included designs from Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Georgina Teng, Chris Gomez, Earl Gariando, Isabelle Ocier, Katrina Delantar Mon, Janice Chua, Tessa Nepomuceno, Jo Ann Bitagcol, Jun Artajo, Ken Samudio, Milagros Imson, Katrina Charmaine Ong, Maco Custodio, Neil Felipp, Noelle Llave, Adante Leyesa, Tal De Guzman, Tina Campos Magistrado, Abecel Rosende, Thian Rodriguez, Yen Pomida Nacario, Twinkle Ferraren, Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, Martha Rodriguez and Christine Vertucio.

Prominent Filipina actress Jodi Sta. Maria also lent her voice and influence to the show as she encouraged viewers “to be loyal to local and support Filipino craftsmanship.”  Onlookers of the show also caught a glimpse of each designer’s creative process and the workers that serve as the backbone behind each piece – further bringing meaning and value to each accessory produced.

Viewers are quickly brought to the realization that the livelihood of employees and the communities being supported by the designers are also affected.

Among these are the women artisans of Lipa City, Leather Crafters of Marikina, the Mamanwa Weavers of Surigao Del Sur, the metalsmiths and goldsmiths of Quezon City, the weavers from Bicol, wood sculptors from Laguna, leather tanners of Bulacan, the Inaul weavers of Sultan Kudarat; the Repousse Metalcraft of Manila and Pampanga, the local artisans of Compostela, The Visayan artisans of Cebu, the artisans of disadvantaged women from Muntinlupa, the weavers of Basey Association for Native Industry Growth (BANIG), the weavers from the Yakan community of Basilan and even the graphic workers of Manila.

People have the tendency to assume that fashion is all about the superficial. But “Fashion for Healing 2” stands as proof that the impact of the pandemic goes beyond just the trivial aspects of styling. It transcends into the lives of several workers who are essential not only to the industry but also to the preservation of our cultural pride.

As Ty puts it: “We are no longer merely trying to keep businesses afloat. Beyond that, we are pledging support for communities, for the preservation of our country’s craft, culture and heritage.”

You can watch Fashion for Healing 2 on Youtube or on JCA Production’s Facebook page.

Keep supporting local and let’s all rise from this together.

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