This art and fashion soirée in Manila gave a glimpse of Filipino heritage
Happy Andrada flaunted a 10-piece Filipiniana-inspired collection | Photo by Dan Tan courtesy of Happy Andrada
These days, honoring your Filipino heritage—regardless if you live in the Philippines or you’re part of the diaspora that’s nearly 4.5 million in the United States—has become an easier exercise for most.
Whether arming yourself with awareness about heritage sites threatened by apathy and urbanization or going on a culinary pilgrimage in Southern Luzon or right through America’s heartland, many Filipinos today have rekindled a stronger sense of connection with their identity.
But none comes close to a statement of love for culture and heritage when you’re literally wearing your Filipino heart on your sleeve.
Fashion as a mirror
“What’s ‘in fashion’ at any one moment speaks to wider trends in society, politics, and the arts… whether or not countries are becoming more nationalistic, or fluctuations in the economy, and relate that quite directly to the length of skirt hems and the silhouettes of garments,” writes Manhattan-based writer, editor, and storyteller Mikelle Street in “How Fashion Meets Culture.”
None comes close to a blistering statement of love for culture and heritage when you’re literally wearing your Filipino heart on your sleeve
In essence, what can be summed up as a “fashion moment” is simply society raising a mirror and daring to show the signs of the times. That was the case when Mich Dulce released her three-piece Assemblage terno set in response to the country slowly opening up in March 2022, when Filipinos were gingerly moving from URL interactions to IRL connections.
Even celebrities such as Yassi Pressman and Ana Cruz Kayne (who donned a pink Dennis Lustico terno at the “Barbie” Los Angeles premiere) have fully showcased Filipino artistry and sensibility in their own ways.
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It was the same case at the recent Ascott Soirée where Happy Andrada, well, happily flaunted a 10-piece Filipiniana-inspired collection injected with contemporary elements.
The collaboration is in line with the upscale serviced residence’s brand refresh as well as a “commitment to providing unparalleled luxury experiences and dedication to supporting Filipino artists and promoting local creativity on a global stage,” says Ascott Makati general manager Cecille Teodoro.
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Happy Andrada is a Filipino heritage heroine
So what did we love about the soirée? Personally, it’s the fact that Andrada wasted no time in getting her point across.
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Her creations are constructed with everything you could ever love about local fashion—beautiful textiles such as binakol weave from Abra; a fairly faithful rendition of a piña silk barong modernized with Swarovski crystals then paired with a digitally printed rattan skirt; and a mesmerizing airbrushed dress finished off with a custom rattan belt, hand-beaded stockings, and an embellished salakot.
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So much of Andrada’s vision in this collaboration playfully sheds light (yet again) on the widespread scope of Filipino cultural heritage today. Even more engrossing is that these pieces are “made with love by communities and artisans from the Philippines” and with sustainability in mind.
Happy Andrada pictured here with her models and team | Photo by Dan Tan
Even the Ascott marketing team came out in their modern barongs and Filipiniana chic outfits
“Clothes are—quite literally—embedded in the fabric of our daily lives,” continues Street. “When we put on a shirt in the morning, wrap a scarf around us when we’re cold, or slip into a fancy dress for a party, we’re inhabiting our history, our politics, and our culture, creating a visual shorthand of who we are.”
And doesn’t that just make basking in the beauty of a fashion collection and collaboration like this all the more rewarding?
If you want to get your hands on any of these pieces, the collection will be available at ArteFino from Aug. 24 to 27 at The Fifth at Rockwell.
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