If there’s a hashtag that should keep on trending, it should unarguably be #FilipinoFashionFridays. Find out why this is an important thing to hop on.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, an overwhelming amount of businesses have already irrevocably suffered. Add to the fact that we’ve recently been put under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine again, many livelihoods will surely be affected, perhaps even more economically than before. While this case may be, the local fashion industry is starting to resist being a casualty of this unprecedented crisis.
Filipino fashion designers have been struggling to keep their own brands afloat in the midst of a global economic recession, especially now that the Philippines’ GDP plunges to 16.5 percent during the second quarter—the lowest drop recorded since the dictatorship of the Marcos Regime in 1985. Moreover, not only do foreign competitors eat up a chunk of Filipino consumers, but these local labels are also not given the proper limelight that they truly deserve.
With this in mind, many notable figures in the industry such as Robby Carmona, Apples Aberin, and Carmina Sanchez have started #FilipinoFashionFridays (FFF), an online movement to help brilliant Pinoy creatives put their work out in the open, proving that Filipino craftsmanship and design are truly world-class. The pledge is simple: to wear Philippine-made fashion every Friday, which shows support and raises more awareness for our very own artisans, designers, labels, communities, and enterprises.
If you come to think of it, now is actually the perfect time to do this movement since various social media challenges are sprouting everywhere. And now, we have this shared responsibility to continue its momentum. Not because we’re part of this industry, but because most importantly, we are simply Filipinos who can and will help.
Just look at it this way: the movement is all about being patriotic to your own country and its people. Should we be able to raise more awareness on such ingenious creations that eventually turn into acquisitions, then it shall pave more avenues for local commerce to have another unique way of playing out in the markets today. There’s a possibility of a domino effect that could positively help businesses improve. Once that happens, it may provide more job opportunities, financial sustenance to partner communities, and hopefully, help our GDP to regain its previous standing.
So, from the historic KKK almost two centuries ago, maybe in the local fashion scene today, we have its contemporary counterpart, FFF. And as the Philippines’ best fashion magazine, we definitely urge our readers to participate in this great movement and help Pinoy designers and brands. After all, nobody will lose anything by just supporting a good cause and buying local.
That being said we’d like to nominate you—YES YOU (the one reading this right now)—to be part of #FilipinoFashionFridays and wear anything made local. Just don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @mega_magazine.
