Philippine Creativity took centerstage in Thailand with DTI’s Lahi Showcase
By Kathleen Pokrud
In its continuing mission to promote Philippine cultural diplomacy and the cultivation of the country's creative economy, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC), recently staged in Bangkok "Malikhaing Pinoy: Lahi", a celebration of Philippine heritage, showcasing a 33-piece couture collection by renowned Filipino designer Rajo Laurel.
The collection revealed an inspired visual journey, exploring the realms of Philippine identity, history, community and geography, presenting a harmony through design narrative touchpoints. This Philippine fashion showcase exemplified the landmark partnership PCIDC established with Thailand's Creative Economy Agency (CEA), a milestone alliance that not only served to enhance cross-border collaboration, but also provided a platform for strategic trade.
“Who is the Filipino?” was the question reflected by the designer, Rajo Laurel, in this collection. He explained,"Fashion has been my medium to understand heritage, identity and culture not only through materials, but through how our people interact, the values that guide us and how these stories can remain relevant for today and for future generations." He added, "Being Filipino can mean many things. There is no single definition of our culture. With Lahi, my perspective reflects who we are and who we can become.”
Laurel's evocative design voice emboldened by handcrafted works and accessories exclusively developed for the collection by some of the country's most celebrated creatives such as Arnel Papa, Celestina Maristela Ocampo, Cholo Ayuyao, Monchét Diokno Olives and MX Studios by Maxine Santos Tuaño. Together, they completed the design narrative with head-to-toe looks that crystallized the vision. The result was a collection that blends elements of history, identity, geography and community through the designer's contemporary artistic lens.
Laurel emphasized, "Lahi is a storyboard of Philippine fashion developed through collaboration. Bayanihan is a core Filipino value. There is strength in creating a point of view together with other Filipino creatives. This dialogue opens up, deepens the conversation and allows us to experiment, direct and define new ideas and voices."
