Cordilleran Inabel took the spotlight at New York Fashion Week 2024, through Tapis & Baag, a visionary Filipino brand.
The indigenous textiles garnered acclaim for their intricate designs and quality, proving Cordillera textiles’ presence in the global fashion arena.
According to Ginalyn Brown-Tayag, the founder, designer, and CEO of Tapis & Baag, she got an invitation from the event in February.
As soon as she got the invitation, she started to gather her designers and started to work.
During the New York Fashion Week 2024, she relayed the Inabel fabric was a showstopper. She conveyed that most of the event’s attendees drew closer to the fabric and that other designer approached her for their creations.
“They approached and asked me what it is, especially the first that really grabbed their attention was the ‘Solihiya’ being integrated to a fabric and when they came closer, lalo silang napa-wow kasi nakita da garud dyay Inabel and of course our beautiful Filipiñanas.”
Tayag felt proud as she thanked their supporters and dedicated the success to the Cordillerans and the Cordillera region.
The Origin of Tapis & Baag
Tapis & Baag came to be in February 2023 when Tayag discovered that there are prints of Cordilleran Inabel fabrics to date.
Though the design was Inabel, it was printed on cheap fabrics, disappointing her.
Her discovery of printed Inabel fabrics did not sit well with her because it would threaten the Inabel products in the future if people would buy it for its cheaper price.
“Nagpintas, actually. Infairness, nagpintas. [The] vibrant colors… however, it’s fake. It is scary that it can be detrimental to our Inabel heritage, so I thought, ‘anya ngata ti maaramid ko?’ I thought I’d try my best to do something the way I can in my own little ways to help and see that this Inabel fabrics in [a] printed form shall not be utilized,"she commented.
Tapis & Baag was successfully launched in June 2023 at Baguio City Convention Center.
Tapis & Baag aims to empower the weavers and mainly bring the Inabel fabric and its heritage, out in a wider audience globally.
“Since taga dituyak US, I want to take that advantage and opportunity ta I can go back to my roots itta Cordillera. Get our Inabel, take it here, and introduce it to a bigger and wider audience.”
“I’m sure adun ti mang araramid dita but why not more? Why not I’ll jump into that advocacy and help out also? So, that was our mission, and our vision is really just to take out our Inabel fabric, that heritage, outside the Philippines, and so we did," Tayag conveyed.
Tayag also designs Tapis & Baag. She co-designs with a couple of her co-designers; her cousin Olga Abaya, and Jasper Padua.
“So, mainly, right now, we are the three co-designers of Tapis & Baag. I do have future plan which is going to be released this June because I have future plans also with our local designers in Baguio City and the whole Cordillera.”
She conveyed that Tapis & Baag will continue to promote Inabel fabrics outside the Philippines and will continue to keep joining Fashion Week platforms.
Advice to fashion designer wannabes
When asked on her advice to youth wanting to become fashion designers in the future, she said that wannabes should focus on what they wanted to do and if they already have the talent, they can start working on their ‘canvas’ which is the ‘Inabel’ fabric.
“…their canvas as an artist is our Inabel fabric. We really have to be creative and work with that. And don’t listen to any negativity. Just keep doing what you need to do. We have our own struggles. We have our bumps and humps on the road especially if you want to get to your goal.
You just have to keep moving because if you stop, it will slow you down. So keep going, keep dreaming, and keep reaching your goals,” she added.
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