Buwan Ng Wika: Berry's T'boli Outfit + Contemporary Chic Filipiniana

Because August is Buwan ng Wika, I will be highlighting Filipiniana fashion - both traditional and contemporary. I hope that this inspires many of you to support Filipino design and craftsmanship, and to realize that there's more to Filipiniana fashion than the obvious, aka what we have always been accustomed to.

When I passed by the live exhibit booth of the T'boli ladies during Manila Fame last March, I just could not leave without buying this handmade beaded top and the matching wrap skirt for Berry. 

I have always wanted one for myself, and if I could not get my hands on one yet, Berry will definitely have to have one.

I bought the set for about Php1,500. I justified the cost to Dada, explaining that Berry will be using it for their Linggo ng Wika celebration in school. She can also use it for International Day, for costume parties, or even just for dress up.

It's such a chic outfit, and not the typical kimona and patadyong skirt that most kids would wear to school as their Filipiniana costume.

Buying this set is also made more meaningful, because it is a way to support the preservation, protection and continuation of T’boli culture and crafts.

The top, I have to stress, is gorgeous.  I can see myself wearing it with a black skirt or trousers and my Gianvito Rossi heels. Or made more casual, say for Fall dressing in NY, with cropped skinny leather pants and Dicker booties - very Isabel Marant.

The necklaces did not come with this outfit. These are part of my mom's collection of tribal jewelry that she collected from my Dad's trips to the Mindanao when he was still in the military. They complement Berry's outfit perfectly!

Since we are on the subject of Filipiniana fashion, I have to share with you my most favorite homegrown brands that support Filipino artisans.

Each season, I find myself buying something from Amarie by Anne Marie Saguil and Filip+Inna by Len Cabili.

Amarie was started by Anne Marie, a graduate of FIDM in Los Angeles, just a few years back. Her designs are such showstoppers. The kind where you want to stop a girl wearing something of hers, just to ask, "Where do I get one?!"

Anne Marie, Berry & myself at the Aranaz Pool Party. Anne Marie & I are wearing Amarie, Berry in Gingersnaps

I love how I can wear something an Amarie dress or top and look instantly dressed up. I have worn Amarie to pool parties, christenings, birthday parties, even a Chinese New Year lunch.

Some of Amarie's more affordable pieces are machine-embroidered, but there is something soulful about an Amarie piece that is embroidered by hand, right in the home of a woman who is earning a living while watching over her kids. 

Buying something designed by Anne allows us to support another woman's livelihood and ability to provide for her family, while owning a beautiful piece of art that we can pass on to our daughters.

This is my first Filip+Inna piece, a dress so intricately beaded and embroidered, I feel terribly special when I wear it out.

The next piece on my Filip+Inna wishlist will be something from the Pina collection. I would love to have that Donya caftan on the left. Imagine that with an antique, gold tambourine necklace from Bulacan. So gorgeous.

Of course, there are more contemporary Filip+Inna pieces, that make for perfect resort wear. These would be right at home in a Batangas beach house, or a Hamptons cottage/mansion.

Another chic outfit I spotted at Manila Fame was this cream top matched with a black belted pina skirt.

I wish I found out who this is by. I would love to have this! Maybe have the skirt cut into midi-length, so I can wear it more often, to more than one occasion.

Filipiniana fashion has gotten a lot more exciting, and wearable, I am actually looking forward to the day when everybody starts wearing Filipiniana on a daily basis, just like during my great-grandmother's time.

It's like saying, "I'm proud to be Pinoy" and really showing it, with style.

Berry's First Flores de Mayo in Pila, Laguna

Almost every week, Berry would ask "Dada, can you buy me a wedding gown?"

I think it's not so much that she wants to get married, but more because she wants to wear a pretty gown. When my cousin Alessa and her fiance Jigger came over our place 2 months ago to ask Berry to be their flower girl for their May 2014 wedding, Berry was so thrilled. In fact, she's been telling everyone she meets, she's going to be a flower girl. Of course, the prospect of walking down the aisle wearing a gown, even if its a year away, is like the biggest deal for her!

So when our Tita Cora messaged me on Facebook a few months ago, inviting Berry to be one of the sagalas for our town's 125th Flores de Mayo celebration, I just knew she would love it! Finally, she gets to fulfill her dream of wearing a gown!

I know how challenging it would be to find the kind of gown I had in my mind, so I excitedly asked my friend Sheryl Laudico to make something for Berry (she owns an alteration store/dress shop called Alterrific in Robinson's Magnolia). I wanted something simple, but elegant. Princess-y without going overboard. So I thought of an empire waist, tiered dress with a sash. With Sheryl, I decided on the fabrics and colors, and we chose satin and tulle with a silk sash to create this confection:

I also designed the dress to have an accent piece behind the sash, a huge rosette with small rosettes. The sewer thought of clustering the smaller ones around the big one and the effect was so pretty! Very happy that Sheryl was able to bring my vision to fruition. I consider it lucky that I got to work with Sheryl who "gets" me, because they were able to execute exactly what I had in my head.

Tita Karrots said she likes Berry's gown, I should make and she will buy in all colors, ahaha. Do I have a future in children's formal wear? What do you think? Haha!

Berry was initially shy and didn't want to join the procession that Xavi and I had to stay beside her.

Eventually, she decided to hold hands with Arianna, her distant cousin from the Rivera side. She told me it was because "Her gown is the same as my gown." Awwww.

Xavi, this post is not just about Atchi Berry. You were such a supportive shoti, you were so behaved all throughout even though it was a very warm day. I am so proud of you!

Xavi with me and Lola Lorna

Tita Cora says Berry will one day be Rosa Mystica in her teens, and then an hermana when she gets to her 20s. I have to start thinking of gown designs for her then! ;) Xavi, I'll find a nice barong for you when you become an hermano too!

PS - Flores de Mayo or Flowers of May is a festival celebrated in honor of Mama Mary in the month of May. During the last Sunday of May, a Santacruzan is celebrated with sagalas, the Reyna de las Flores, the Rosa Mistica, and hermanos/hermanas going around town in a procession. It's a beautiful religious/traditional celebration that has been celebrated in our town for 125 years now. It also happens to be a social affair with relatives from all over coming home to Pila, Laguna to join in the festivities.