The True Filipino Look

We are Team Charlie. A group of Filipinas who truly believe in the potential of local Filipino clothing. It was that one day where we realized that the local fashion industry is a slowly rising icon but we Filipinos are too busy watching the international fashion scene to be able to see what local has to offer. This rise is relevant for each Filipino because it has something to do with their identity that is rooted from our deep, rich and vibrant culture. This matter is truly close to our hearts so we decided to become advocates of change that would gradually change, even just the slightest bit the perception and opinion of our fellow Filipino citizens about locally made fashion pieces.

Our fashion sense as people is deeply rooted in history. We are a nation that has been colonized numerous times and because of this, a lot of cultural ideas have already mixed with ours so as a result, our fashion identity is a blur. Although there is no clear definition of what Filipino fashion is yet, we would like people to realize that supporting local is the stepping stone to be able to form that universal understanding of the distinct Filipino fashion image. If we are able to accomplish this, we will be united as a people and our identity will finally emerge, ultimately finding our distinction among all the other cultures we so admire. To achieve this seemingly big goal, we think that we should begin slowly with ourselves and steadily elevate it to groups of friends then the community and soon, the whole nation. We have to believe in the local products that we have, not just spreading the word about how great and beautiful they are but transcending one’s action to actually buying it, using it and making it part of our daily lives. We want to be able to show our fellow Filipinos that if we could do that with fashion pieces of other cultures, we can be able to do it to our homemade products as well. We envision a future wherein local fashion businesses are flourishing and becoming renowned just like big western brands because we know that our rich culture is capable of winning the hearts of any person and they will embrace our culture just like how we did with theirs. We are aware that what we want seems ambitious, but our faith in the Filipino potential and talents do not waver. We know that the time will come when we can have a shared understanding of what Filipino fashion would look like but for the time being, we know that the start of this journey would truly begin when we start buying our own and realizing that support towards local fashion is not enough to get the cause to the level we want to achieve. We are far from succeeding right now but maybe through presenting the stark truth and genuinely asking for help, together we can succeed as a one united Filipino people.

Typically, when you think of Traditional Filipino fashion, one of the first things that come to mind is the State of the Nation Address or any formal event. The SONA is where you see everyone in a Terno or a Barong Tagalog. You see all these political figures with their families wearing similar silhouettes, but the only difference with their outfits is their color of choice. In modern times, special events and Buwan ng Wika are the occasions you see traditional Filipino fashion in full force. You tend to connect Filipino Fashion with a childhood memory wherein you are scarred from your childhood wearing an itchy terno while singing Kaleidoscope World by Francis M. There is this notion that you can’t wear a terno every day or you should only use woven bags in the beach. But, throughout the years, aspiring Filipino designers have been changing the game of Modern Filipino Fashion both in the realms of casual wear and high fashion. They have been mixing Filipino Culture and Tradition and reinventing it into their designs. They are integrating the style, material, and concept that they are using and revolutionizing the “Filipino Look.”  These designers are not only working for the benefit of Filipino Fashion — they are also working for the benefit of their fellow Filipinos. Designers have been pushing the envelope to highlight the different cultures we have in the country. 

We know that what we are asking for is big. It is not as simple as pressing a share button to hype awareness. Awareness isn’t the problem when it comes to supporting local designers and finding a look that encapsulates the Philippines. The matter here is how loyal Filipinos are to their culture. That is what we are trying to achieve, by showing the experiences and moments of inspiration from the consumer to the designer and seeing how far Filipino fashion can go in the future to get our fellow Filipinos to get excited about the future of fashion here in the country. This team wants Filipinos to embrace what is truly theirs.