CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Patis Tesoro. Mak Tumang. Ditta Sandico. Marlon Tuazon. All fashion designers. All Kapampangans. All in the Top 100 Living Filipino Fashion Designers editorial list published by Pinoy History.
At Top 8, Tesoro of Angeles City, is known as the “Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion” for her dedication to cultural preservation and revival of dying indigenous weaving industries, and is considered a master of piña, abaca, and inabel, utilizing traditional calado and natural dyes.
Only last September, Tesoro was proclaimed National Artist of the Philippines for Design.
Mak Tumang of Mexico rounds up the Top 10, hailed for his “intense 3D embroidery, gradient beadwork, and heavy crystallization to tell a distinct cultural story through the dress itself” famously made manifest in the “Mayon Lava Gown” worn by Catriona Gray in her winning Miss Universe 2018.
Also rooted in Mexico town, ranked 28th Ditta Sandico is considered a pioneer in eco-fashion design with her banaca – an innovative blend of banana and abaca fibers — creating sculptural, multi-use, and travel-friendly Filipiniana wraps.
Ranking 54th, Angeles City native Marlon Tuazon created a fashion niche with his Filipino ternos using native materials, winning double gold in the Balintawak and Terno categories at TernoCon 2018. He was also recognized as Most Promising Fashion Designer at Asia’s Pinnacle Awards 2023.
By no means an official fashion industry registry, the Top 100 Living Filipino Fashion Designers is Pinoy History editorial ranking that considers design excellence, originality, craftsmanship, cultural influence, professional achievements, international recognition, and contributions to the industry. Photos from web/CTTO
