The Philippines is an extremely biodiverse country, home to over 70% of the world’s animal and plant life. There are 9464 species of flora that can be found here, 4640 of which are endemic, meaning native to our country. The abundance of our natural life is something to be proud of, which is why we’ve continuously drawn inspiration from it. For May, we’ve dedicated special pieces that showcase Philippine flora, specifically the sampaguita, kapa-kapa, and gumamela.
Sampaguita
The Jasminium Sambac, commonly known as sampaguita, is our national flower. It gets its name from the Filipino words “sumpa” and “kita” which means “I promise you.” It holds meaning to us Filipinos because we thread it together to form a garland, and offer it to religious statues as a form of veneration and respect.
The sampaguita has small, white blooms that grow together in clusters. It has a beauty that can best be described as feminine and graceful. This type of quiet beauty inspired our designs; see them in the Emma.
Gumamela
The Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis, commonly known as gumamela, is a four-feet shrub with large five-petal flowers. Because of its beauty, it is a choice ornamental flower for Filipinos; Gumamelas have grown to become familiar sights in places such as home facades and public parks. They are also loved for their medicinal purposes as it is said to have anti-infectious and anti-inflammatory properties.
The most striking part of the Gumamela is its signature large, five-petal flowers that come in a range of bright, saturated colors. It is a picture of tropical beauty, spirited and fun, which inspired our design for the Eleanor.
Kapa-Kapa
The Medinilla Magnifica, commonly known as kapa-kapa, is a native Philippine flower. It is an epiphyte or “air plant” that grows on the trunk of forest trees. It is sometimes called “grape rose” because of the way it hangs down.
The kapa-Kapa is most known for its striking appearance. It features tiny pink-red buds, clustered together to make an explosion of color. Through the way it grows downwardly, it creates a gracefully cascading shape. The kapa-kapa is a flower that is bold yet unassuming, lively yet delicate; It inspired our design for the Emma.
Sustainability
We can’t talk about local flora and overall Philippine biodiversity, without discussing sustainability. Climate change is a pressing issue that threatens our country’s plant and animal life. The destruction is massive and non-stop, so much so that if we don’t take action now, there will be irreversible damage.
There are different initiatives that can be taken to prevent the degradation of Philippine biodiversity. Bayo, for one, is compliant with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and has created transparent and trackable means to help the earth.
In the Filipina Fashion (R)Evolution campaign, we introduced methods such as local community partnership, textile upcycling, zero-waste design technology, and more to lessen our environmental impact. We feel it’s right that for this nature that inspires us so much, we must return the favor of sustaining it.
To shop our sustainable Philippine-flora-inspired picks, click here.
