5/17/2022

How this Filipino Designer is Preventing Traditional Textiles from Dying Out

Filipino designer Wilson Limon at @ninofranco.ph is one of the country’s greatest slow fashion advocates. By working with the T’boli ethno-linguistic group, he’s trying to preserve Philippine craftsmanship as well as make clothing that can be worn on an everyday basis.. The result: a mix of intricate, traditional textiles as well as contemporary, everyday clothing. “Everything is handmade, not mass produced. So most of their pieces are actually hand embroidery and it takes T’boli artisans six weeks to make an item.” When @catriona_gray the 2018 Miss Universe from the Philippines, wore pieces from Niño Franco, it was a big moment of visibility for Wilson and the T’boli community. For the roughly 60,000 population who face losing their heritage, the collaboration helps preserve their traditional knowledge and livelihoods. “We don't want this to be hidden in the mountains. We want to expose their talents to the world.”

About the Filmmaker

5/17/2022

How this Filipino Designer is Preventing Traditional Textiles from Dying Out

Filipino designer Wilson Limon at @ninofranco.ph is one of the country’s greatest slow fashion advocates. By working with the T’boli ethno-linguistic group, he’s trying to preserve Philippine craftsmanship as well as make clothing that can be worn on an everyday basis.. The result: a mix of intricate, traditional textiles as well as contemporary, everyday clothing. “Everything is handmade, not mass produced. So most of their pieces are actually hand embroidery and it takes T’boli artisans six weeks to make an item.” When @catriona_gray the 2018 Miss Universe from the Philippines, wore pieces from Niño Franco, it was a big moment of visibility for Wilson and the T’boli community. For the roughly 60,000 population who face losing their heritage, the collaboration helps preserve their traditional knowledge and livelihoods. “We don't want this to be hidden in the mountains. We want to expose their talents to the world.”

About the Filmmaker

Watch more

Thai Group, The Barbarian, Inspired by Chicano Culture

Leng the Barbarian is not a gangster, he’s a big brother in a family–one where male members endure 13 seconds of violence to belong, and female members (depending on if they’re “sweet” or “strong”) must dance or drink alcohol. This initiation, Leng explains, is a challenge meant to attract like-minded people: strong, determined, perseverant. This family has house rules, including not doing cocaine and amphetamines, or anything that can “ruin their lives”. They take care of one another like a family does, sharing everything from money and food to jobs and opportunities. In 2017, Leng founded The Barbarian, a group that was aimed to be independent, creative, and loud. As a child growing up in the slums, he had experienced watching fatal overdoses on his way to school, and grew up to become a thief buying drugs. Deeply inspired by Chicano gang culture and style, and listening to Mexican rappers like Lil Rob and Mr Yosie, Leng was drawn to how gentle the culture was from how they dance to iron their clothes. Chicano, a chosen identity for Mexicans who immigrated to Los Angeles, was once a term of derision and then adopted as an expression of defiance towards white assimilation. Not only did Leng integrate Chicano gang style into The Barbarian aesthetic, he built an imported clothing business focused on Chicano streetwear. He wants people to raise children with an open mind, and learn about Chicano culture by wearing it. Leng believes it’s their recognizable style that has made The Barbarians a target for police today.

Watch more

X

Trailer

How this Filipino Designer is Preventing Traditional Textiles from Dying Out