Tourism Promotions Board showcases Filipino weaving traditions at Fashion Week Asia
The state tourism marketing agency served as cultural partner of the inaugural Manila event, pitching local crafts as both heritage and livelihood, including those of Mindanao's T'boli weavers.
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines took part in the first Fashion Week Asia as its official cultural partner, using the regional event in Manila to highlight Filipino craftsmanship and the communities behind it, according to Mindanao Times.
Organised by AGC Power Holdings Corporation, the event ran from October 20 to 24, 2026, with runway shows held at the Palacio de Memoria. Thirteen designers presented collections, with creators from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam appearing alongside Filipino designers.
TPB chief operating officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles said traditional textile work carries meaning beyond fashion. "For the local communities, weaving and embroidery are part of their identity," she said, adding that these traditions are also "sources of livelihood, dignity, and pride."
Nograles drew on her work with T'boli weaving communities in Mindanao in stressing that traditional crafts provide income for Filipino artisans. The agency said international recognition of local craftsmanship can open lasting opportunities and support community-based tourism.
On the final day of the event, TPB co-hosted a cultural tour for visiting designers and media. The group toured the National Museum of Fine Arts to learn about the history behind Filipino artistry, then sampled regional cuisine at a food showcase at Newport World Resorts.
The agency said the partnership is part of a broader push to promote authentic cultural stories. It cited the Philippine Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, which won the BIE Silver Award for an exhibition featuring local artisans, and a joint programme with the SOFA Design Institute that brought design students to the Cordilleras earlier this year to learn from indigenous weavers.
TPB said it hopes linking fashion and tourism will draw global attention to the people and traditions behind Filipino design and encourage visitors to return to the country.
Why it matters for Davao
The agency's emphasis on Mindanao's T'boli weaving communities signals that it sees regional crafts as a draw for community-based tourism, which could create opportunities for artisans in the region.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Mindanao Times. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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