State of a nation’s fashion, according to Lulu Tan-Gan

On Monday, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to make his fifth State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, and along with it, the anticipated return of SoNA fashions.

In a recent exclusive interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, esteemed Filipino designer and indigenous textiles advocate Lulu Tan-Gan pondered on the current state of Filipino fashion and shared the industry-related issues she wished the president would address in his next SoNA.

“From north to south, the Philippines is a tapestry of diverse cultures, united by an innate talent for craftsmanship, creativity and design,” Tan-Gan said when DAILY TRIBUNE asked in a text message what for her is the current state of Filipino fashion.

“Finally, with the collaboration of textile and fashion leaders, artisan communities, academia, government and the retail sector, our industry stands at a pivotal moment of transformation. It is an opportunity to redefine its purpose — not only to innovate, but also to safeguard, promote and preserve our rich textile and fashion heritage for future generations.”

Tan-Gan is among the featured designers at the upcoming Designers’ Holiday Bazaar (DHB), a pioneering holiday marketplace that returns for its 13th year with a multi-city expansion. For the upcoming bazaar in Glorietta and Ayala Museum from 27 November to 6 December, Tan-Gan will present “Farm to Fashion,” a collection that describes “the heart” of her work.

“As an artisanal designer, my journey began with a deep love for craftsmanship. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I started creating my own textiles through hand-loomed knitwear, discovering that the fabric itself was just as meaningful as designing the garment,” she recalled.

“This collection celebrates the journey from nature to textile, and from artisan to wearer. It honors the farmers who cultivate the fibers, the craftsmen like weavers and embroiders, who transform them into cloth; and on my part, the designers who reinterpret these traditions for today’s contemporary world,” she shared.

According to her, at the SoNA and beyond, she wishes the President would address how artisans, such as piña weavers, could be supported to provide regular and steady supply for designers like her who champion the use of authentic Filipino piña.

“With strategic government subsidies where they are most needed, our creative and textile industries can thrive and compete globally,” she affirmed. “I believe tradition thrives when it evolves through contemporary participation. By bringing a fashion-forward perspective to heritage textiles, we keep our traditions alive, relevant and continually inspiring for future generations.”