Last June 2023, the Bayo team had the honor of presenting a traditional Filipiniana dress to the Czech Republic through Her Excellency Jana Šedivá, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Philippines. It will be showcased at the Litoměřice Museum in Litoměřice, a historically significant town as it is where our national hero, Dr. Joze Rizal, and Austrian teacher Ferdinand Blumentritt, lifelong friends, once met.
A Single Skirt–A Storied Tale on Filipino Craftsmanship
It took the Bayo Atelier more than a month to craft the Filipiniana–we wanted to be intentional with the materials we chose to properly show Filipino materiality and craftsmanship. Our team at HARVEST (Heritage and Artisanship Reimagined as a Vehicle for Economic growth, Sustainability, and Technology) Creative Community Hub, together with Narda’s collected materials from regions in the Northern Philippines–from Ifugao, Kalinga, Abra, and the Mt. Province. Through the Bayo Foundation, we also collected handwoven textiles from partner communities in Bulacan, Aklan, and Misamis Oriental while Philippine silk threads were sourced from communities in Kapangan in Benguet and Misamis Oriental.
Originating from different regions, each handmade textile was unique in its pattern, color, and design, but they came together in their shared thread of slow, careful, and thoughtful Filipino craftsmanship.
From Farm to Fiber
We crafted the Filipiniana’s Camisa with two kinds of Philippine silk, the first being premium, locally-harvested silk. Through the Bayo Foundation, and in collaboration with the DOST-PTRI in the Cordillera Administrative Region, we have been making our own silk since 2021. From the delivery of the silkworms to the spinning of threads, each process is carefully done by sericulture farmers and craftsmen to make the best quality silk. We also incorporated salvaged silk that was initially the excess left from the processing of the premium fibers.
For us, this blouse is an apt representation of our sustainability practice–focusing on slow processes with local makers in every part of the value chain, creating beautiful things through responsible production.
the Camisa, made with Philippine Silk
Of Friendship through Fashion
Through this presentation of the Filipiniana, we want to celebrate the shared cultural tapestry and enduring friendship between the Philippines and the Czech Republic–it’s a testament to our historical connection, all while showcasing the beauty of Filipino materiality, craftsmanship, and design. The Filipiniana not only embodies history and heritage but also the beautiful marriage of our artisan past with a future rooted in sustainability.
As this Filipiniana finds its place among the historical artifacts at the Litoměřice Museum, it serves as a symbol of bridging the gap between two countries through a shared appreciation of fashion, culture, and craft.
To learn more about Bayo Atelier and the Bayo Foundation’s continuing circularity efforts–their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and dedication to heritage preservation–please visit bayo.com.ph, or the newly opened Bayo Atelier store in Greenbelt 5, Makati
