Indigenous fashion staged in Davao City

A one-of-its-kind fashion show was staged at the Abreeza Mall, Davao City last December 6, 2013. Behind the short-lived glitz and the glamour of the said event was a very solid social goal, that is, to bring forth to the mainstream market the craftsmanship of our indigenous peoples. The clothes modeled were made from materials hand crafted by the tribal communities of T’boli, Mangyan, Ifugao and B’laan.

This event was produced by the CARD-Business Development Foundation Inc (CARD-BDSFI). It is a member institution of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI). CARD BDSFI is a non-stock, non-profit foundation which provides marketing assistance to the microfinance clients of the CARD Bank Inc, CARD Inc, Rizal Rural Bank Inc, and the CARD SME Bank Inc, all of which are also member institutions of the CARD MRI.

This fashion show was the fifth in a series of shows for the Mga Likha ni Inay brand, owned by the CARD BDSFI. It is a brand of clothing and accessories which reaches out to local artisans who are also microfinance clients of the CARD MRI group. Particularly for the recently held fashion show, the client artisans are members of the mentioned indigenous tribes. These clients are given trainings on improving product quality and packaging and then they are linked to both buyers and suppliers. In this way, they can be active participants of the mainstream fashion business, hence, gradually improving both their social and economic life situation.

Representatives from the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), private and public partners, foundations and private corporations, designers, fashion icons, artists, apparel firms and key officers from microfinance institutions graced the event.