Banana fabric takes center stage at New York Fashion Week

A Filipino fashion designer based in New York just brought the banana fabric to the New York runway.

Born and raised in Davao del Norte, Joy Soo is a former certified public accountant, who recently went back to pursue her first love of fashion designing. She put up her brand Musa Fabric, for which she had been making clothes and accessories for three short years.

At the recently concluded New York Fashion Week, Soo held a fashion show featuring designs made from 50% banana fabric.

“Iyong mga tao na nag-watch ng fashion show were so amazed. Alam ko amazed na amazed sila kasi iyong designs, in-incorporate ko doon iyong tribal designs and hindi nila nakikita iyong mga design na iyon doon,” the designer shared at a Dapat Alam Mo! episode, which aired on March 11.

Proud of where she came from, Soo dedicated the success of her fashion show to the people deprived of liberty (PDL) from Davao del Norte Provincial Jail. They take part in producing banana fabrics.

“Talagang fulfilling siya. Dito ko nakita ang fulfillment sa work ko. Nakapagbigay sa kanila ng new hope and new life and new inspiration itong pag-weave ng musa fabric,” she said.

“Malaking bagay ito sa mga PDL namin. Nagiging busy sila even
during the pandemic or even during the COVID-19 outbreak kasi nandito lang sila sa loob. Kahit na papano, nandito sa loob, kumikita sila,” Soo added.

Aside from PDLs, the indigenous people in Davao such as the Ata Manabos and Dibabawon are also part of the beneficiaries of Soo's creations.

At the show, Soo also explained how the banana fabric is being made. “Ang process nito is iyong mga waist material na na-trunk ng banana, pinuputol at pino-proseso siya. Ang tawag doon ay decortication.”

If there's one thing Soo dreams of in the fashion scene of the Philippines, it's for people to patronize our local products and designs before other countries appreciate it.

"We have to be supportive of our own brand. Iba ang feeling if you are wearing your own product. Let's support local dahil sa totoo lang, one single purchase of local product will make a difference for so many people," Soo concluded. — LA, GMA News