Philippines champions sustainable innovation at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo 2025

Posted: September 24, 2025

Indigenous fibers, coconut innovation, and visual art take center stage in PH-JP collaboration

Tokyo, Japan – 5 September 2025 – The Philippines took center stage at Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo 2025, Asia’s most influential fashion platform, with its official presentation themed “Beyond the Loom: Philippine Indigenous Textiles, Visual Art, Coconut & Pineapple Innovation in Sustainable Fashion.”

Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay of PTIC Tokyo (front, 4th from left) and Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (front, 5th from left), with the PTIC Tokyo team and the featured Filipino visual artists and designers who participated in the PH MODE x Tokyo show at the Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo.
Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay of PTIC Tokyo (front, 4th from left) and Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano (front, 5th from left), with the PTIC Tokyo team and the featured Filipino visual artists and designers who participated in the PH MODE x Tokyo show at the Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo.

Organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Tokyo under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the showcase highlighted how culture, creativity, and sustainability converge through circular design, heritage artisanship, and cutting-edge Japanese technology.The runway unveiled twenty-four (24) contemporary streetwear looks by Filipino designers ALODIACECILIA, Maison Métisse, and. ARCHIVES, alongside Japanese brand Uttrykk. At the heart of the collection were original artworks by Filipina artist Maria Angelica Tan, whose bold color palettes and layered symbolism were digitally reimagined onto fabric through sustainable printing technology from Japan. These were then crafted into garments using pure handmade pineapple fiber and blended textiles of pineapple with recyclable materials, transforming agricultural waste into high-fashion textiles that can scale commercially.

PTIC Tokyo Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay (L) with Filipino artist Maria Angelica Tan (M) and Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albano (R).
PTIC Tokyo Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay (L) with Filipino artist Maria Angelica Tan (M) and Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albano (R).

Three models walk down a runway wearing sustainable fashion pieces featuring indigenous textiles and innovative designs. The first model wears a beige textured dress with fringe details, the second model sports a sheer green-and-blue shirt dress with large pockets, and the third model dons a cream geometric top over a gold satin skirt, all paired with platform sandals.

Four models walk down a runway in avant-garde sustainable fashion. The first wears a sleeveless metallic-patterned top with wide-legged pants, the second a gray oversized jacket with metallic pants, the third an asymmetrical jacket in earthy tones with matching pants, and the fourth a flowing yellow-orange patterned dress with a headwrap. The dark background emphasizes the vibrant designs.

 

Three models walk down a runway in sustainable fashion designs. The first wears a light peach asymmetrical top with long sleeves and a white high-slit skirt, accessorized with a headpiece and sunglasses. The second wears a sleeveless flowing dress with abstract brown, orange, and green patterns and a matching headscarf. The third wears a sleeveless blue-and-green patterned dress with draped fabric over one shoulder. All outfits are paired with sandals, set against a dark background.

Coconut beads, coir and shell embellishments, jewelry, bags, and shoes completed the ensembles—extending the narrative of circular design and women-led artisanship. “From pineapple leaves to the runway, from waste to fiber of the future,” the collection demonstrated how Filipino creativity is fusing tradition and innovation to carve a path in eco-luxury fashion that resonates with Japan’s style-savvy youth and global markets.

The showcase was complemented by an immersive exhibit featuring indigenous textiles and biodiversity-inspired designs from Phase 1 of the project, where artworks by Monica Castillo were printed onto blended fibers and crafted into bespoke formalwear by leading Filipino designers.

PTIC Tokyo Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay with visual artist Monica Castillo.
PTIC Tokyo Commercial Counselor Dita Angara-Mathay with visual artist Monica Castillo.

Also on display were innovative coconut-based products—from home décor, wellness items, to fashion accessories. A coconut tasting nine-dish menu complemented the exhibit, proving how the Philippines’ “tree of life” sustains creativity across multiple sectors. Coconut-inspired refreshments were also served, giving guests a literal taste of the country’s versatility.

A display table of handbags made from coconut fibers and other natural materials, with a banner promoting Philippine indigenous textiles and innovation.

A display of eco-friendly footwear and accessories, including sandals, jewelry, and bags crafted from coconut and pineapple fibers.

Guests examine intricately designed handbags made from indigenous and sustainable materials at the Philippine exhibit.

This two-phase journey was conceptualized by Special Trade Representative (STR) Dita Angara-Mathay, Commercial Counselor of PTIC Tokyo, as part of PTIC’s broader creative industry initiatives. Phase 1 emphasized formal and traditional design, while Phase 2—debuting on the Rakuten runway in partnership with Manila Fashion Forward (MFF) and the Japan Fashion Week Organization (JFWO)—embraced modernity, streetwear, and youth-driven aesthetics. Together, the phases tell a story of how heritage women’s weaving traditions and innovative eco-technologies evolve side by side.

“This project began as a vision to show how Philippine creativity—rooted in heritage and shaped by innovation—can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world,” said STR Angara-Mathay. “By connecting artists, designers, farmers, and women artisans with innovators, we are building a new value chain for sustainable fashion and design, positioning the Philippines as a rising force in the eco-luxury economy.”

With more than 30,000 industry stakeholders attending Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo—including buyers, investors, curators, and media—the Philippines’ participation is both milestone and springboard. It not only celebrates Filipino artistry on Asia’s premier fashion stage but also sets the tone for ambitious collaborations leading to the 70th Anniversary of Philippines–Japan Diplomatic Relations in 2026. ♦

Date of Release: 11 September 2025