Sky Weavers, an Ifugao-owned textile start-up, made its debut in the Tenun Fashion Week held last October 15 to 17, 2021.
Sky Weavers is a cultural enterprise that works with indigenous weavers from Ifugao, Philippines to create clothing pieces and accessories that are wearable in the modern age. Their weavers use the backstrap loom to create "ikat" textile with patterns and techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Their goal is to be able to bring Ifugao culture and textiles to the world stage and to uplift the lives of Weavers in the Ifugao province. Their collections of products include handcrafted scarves, masks, skirts, tops, and wraps designed for streetwear and office wear.
From exquisite fabrics produced for royal courts to vivid cloths woven by communities in the remote reaches of highlands and islands, Southeast Asia has a handwoven textiles tradition with a tremendous range of imagery and demonstrating considerable technical prowess. TENUN, the first fashion week dedicated completely to the handweaves of ASEAN, reimagines their continued relevance by exploring their use in today's fashion.
The event featured digital fashion presentations screened online on 15-17 October 2021 from a total of 45 participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Weaver community profiles and behind-the-scenes footage of the production of the collection will also be screened in the lead-up to the event, with Jury and People's Choice Awards to be presented to selected participants.
Aside from Sky Weavers, Narda's Handwoven Arts and Crafts also from the Cordilleras represented the country in this intercultural collaboration.
Polling is open until the end of November. Results of the People's Choice Award, as well as the TENUN Best Collection, and the Lakumas Most Innovative Weaves Awards will be announced in early December. You may visit https://tenunfashionweek.com/ to support our local brands.
The Fashion Week tagged as "Tenun" or weaving in the Malaysian language, is organized by the Maybank Foundation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Handicraft Promotion and Development Association and Tanoti Malaysia.
