RETAIL TREND REPORT
Nostalgic and sustainable, local brand AraPilak revives the Filipino katsa
Sustainable styles and artisinal designs mark Arapilak
The hunt for vintage clothing is on the rise, but using actual Filipino fabrics that were once used as blankets, bibs and curtains is another tale to be told. The katsa was used to wrap newborns, as a towel for children’s sweaty backs, a rag for the kitchen or even a table topper to match the dining room’s huge wooden cutlery. But as a dress?
AraPilak, which means “no waste” in the Cuyonon dialect, is a sustainable and handcrafted brand based in Palawan. Their recent collection, Ba’law (meaning “awareness”) katsa features tops and dresses in fabric that were sourced from local bakeries in their hometown and taken to their seamstresses. “I would like to consider Ba’Law as my small attempt to bring back some of the classic traditions of the Filipinos back when things were simple and resources scarce,” shares founder Jude Rivera. “The use of katsa was ubiquitous and in some of the provinces, you will still see people using household things made of katsa as hand towels and rags. It would be a shame for this custom to disappear like so many of our other traditions. So, I want Ba’law to represent the Filipino traits of practicality and resourcefulness, which are important factors in sustainability.” AraPilak’s products also include bamboo toothbrushes and cutlery that can be engraved, as well as repurposed coconut plant holders and bamboo tumblers.
“I wanted to make it easier for people like me to practice ecological sustainability. As we grew our business, we started to partner with local communities and became advocates of preserving cultural and traditional practices as well,” says Rivera. Forgotten traditions may have been overshadowed by colonization in the past, but the future generation continues to bring back the culture that was lost.