Fashion for peace
MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) recently held its cultural night with a fashion show dubbed, “Moro Fashionistas, Celebrating Moro and Mindanao Life.”
Realizing her dream of “bringing Mindanao to Makati,” show producer Samira Gutoc of the Young Moro Professionals Network showcased the colorful Moro fashion in style as the Bangsamoro ladies and AIM students sashayed down the catwalk in intricate woven dresses and heavily beaded gowns.
“The event was a prelude to a bigger fundraiser to showcase modernized Moro-inspired wear that can be worn for the mainstream,” explains Gutoc, Islamic Bank director.
The inaul (woven cloth) is worn by the women of Lanao and Maguindanao during public events. It takes several months to produce a woven dress or malong. Sadly, weaving is now considered a dying industry.
“Very few are producing the inaul. It may be due to the lack of transfer of knowledge from the elder weavers to the younger set, and lack of investment,” Gutoc explains.
“I support any initiative to promote Moro fabric,” says former governor Tingting Cojuangco, president of the Philippine Public Safety College. Cojuangco looked gorgeous in a Sulu-inspired gown with a violet sash.
