COTABATO CITY, Philippines โ Long before they reached the glittering runway of Okada Manila, the fabrics had passed through the weathered hands of Bangsamoro weavers and wooden looms in communities scattered across the southern Philippines.
In the islands of Tawi-Tawi, in the weaving villages of Sulu and Basilan, and in the lakeside communities of Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, artisans spent weeks, sometimes months, transforming threads into heirlooms. Last week, those heirlooms stepped into the national spotlight.
At the seventh season of Manila International Fashion Week, held June 12 at Okada Manila Hotel, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) unveiled a dedicated showcase that captivated audiences more accustomed to international labels than indigenous textiles.
The presentation, titled “Modest Fashion: Experience BARMM,” became one of the event’s most talked-about segments, introducing Metro Manila audiences to the richness and sophistication of Bangsamoro weaving traditions through contemporary fashion.
The collection featured garments crafted from some of the region’s most celebrated handwoven textiles: the Tepo of Tawi-Tawi, the geometric Pis Syabit of Sulu, the Tennun of Basilan, the intricate Langkit of Lanao del Sur, and the elegant Inaul woven in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte.
Bangsamoro designers reimagined the fabrics into flowing modest wear, formal gowns, and modern silhouettes that fused heritage with haute coutureโfar from mere costume pieces.
The Bangsamoro government’s participation came after organizers of Manila International Fashion Week encouraged regional officials to mount a dedicated presentation highlighting the autonomous region’s indigenous fabrics.
Leading the effort was MTIT Minister Farserina Mohammad, whose ministry sees cultural industries as a powerful engine for inclusive growth. “Behind every garment is a Bangsamoro weaver and a loom rooted in community tradition,” Mohammad said. “The collections shown in Manila trace directly to weaving communities across the Region, whose craft now reaches a national market at this scale, which is a direct expression of the Ministry’s mandate to convert Bangsamoro culture into livelihood and economic opportunity.”
Her remarks reflected a broader ambition: to transform centuries-old traditions into sustainable sources of income while preserving the cultural identity embedded within each weave.
The Bangsamoro region encompasses the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, as well as the cities of Cotabato, Marawi and Lamitan. Across these communities, weaving has long served not only as an artistic practice but also as a marker of identity, social status and collective memory.
Among those who attended the Manila showcase were former congresswomen Bai Sandra Sema and Ruby Maquiso Sahali, both known for championing programs that support indigenous artisans and connect local producers to national and international markets.
For many in attendance, the runway offered a revelation. The fabrics were export-grade in quality yet unmistakably rooted in place. Their motifs carried stories of ancestry and faith. Their craftsmanship rivaled luxury textiles from established fashion capitals.
The applause that greeted the Bangsamoro presentation signaled more than admiration for beautiful garments. It acknowledged the possibility that communities often defined by conflict and marginalization could instead be recognized for creativity, resilience and enterprise.
Fashion, after all, has always been about storytelling. And on a June evening in Manila, Bangsamoro weavers told theirsโthread by thread, pattern by patternโtransforming tradition into couture and heritage into hope.
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