RETAIL TREND REPORT
Witness how Makati Shangri-La Hotel and GREAT Women come together for Filipino design heritage
Rhett Eala brings color to the retail landscape
Ever since the 90s, Shangri-La Hotel has been regarded as the crown jewel in the heart of Makati. Not only has it been the designated home of world leaders for state visits and business conferences, but it was also famed for pioneering fashion shows in the Pearl of the Orient. So, as the leading purveyor of elegant and luxurious lifestyle, whilst being relevant and socially responsible, the storied hotel has partnered with GREAT Women to celebrate International Women’s Month.
GREAT Women (Gender Responsive Economic Action for the Transformation of Women), is a platform of collaboration that creates value-adding ecosystems for inclusive businesses that give small
women weavers access to national and global markets. That’s why throughout women’s month, Makati Shangri-La Hotel saw the need to support businesswomen, helping them go through the supply chain of textiles. After all, the business model of GREAT Women actually gives market access to products from micro-enterprises that are marginalized and in far-flung areas.
To showcase the true beauty of our country’s textiles and design heritage, the hotel put up a show to impeccably capoff women’s month. A runway show took over the ever-elegant lobby of the hotel, instantly evoking a glorious nostalgia, which marvelously mirrored the old days. The Tapestry fashion show highlighted a collection that epitomized the true greatness and panache of women and Philippine fashion combined.
The show started with a tableau of models donning nude pastel ensembles with a hint of gold. When the music began, a woven mix of classical orchestration and a modern upbeat song, the models sauntered the lobby-turned-catwalk in an elegant nude palette and several striking plaid numbers that caught our attention. Colorful heritage prints were evident in hoodies, ponchos, skirts, oversized tops, and trousers. But more than that, what really astonished everyone was how local weaves and patterns were incorporated in the collection.
It featured the Panay hablon and patadyong, habi of Camarines Sur, and backstrap looms textiles from the Bagobo Tagabawa and Maranao people. The show simply proved that once traditional handwoven textiles are fused with contemporary design, it can surpass the beauty of today’s fashion. Come to think of it, the resplendence of fusing old world glamour with modern elegance will always be timeless. Aside from the fact that it can easily elevate your look, you’ll also be able to showcase the true artistry of the Filipino heritage. In the long run, this collaboration served as a true testimony that a tapestry of efforts can undoubtedly be the start in revitalizing Philippine culture.