Daily Malong, a Pinay-owned fashion brand centered around empowering indigenous artists and weavers in the Philippines, is participating in New York Fashion Week, produced by hiTechMODA. Lydia Querian is the founder and chief creative officer at Daily Malong. She aims to raise awareness about “uncommon” Filipino textiles on a larger platform such as New York Fashion Week. Querian stated that she chose hiTechMODA to promote fashion brands that are focused on sustainability and inclusion.
Daily Malong’s debut in NYFW is themed around “Indigenous is the Future.” The term “indigenous” is often associated with old, ancient, or primitive. Daily Malong’s newest collection aims to change this narrative by bringing the native to the present as well as the future. Daily Malong was created to help diaspora Pilipinx better understand their identities through fashion.
Daily Malong partnered with Darzah, a Palestinian woman-owned nonprofit and ethical fashion brand. Darzah is a Palestinian women-owned nonprofit that works with refugees and low-income women artisans from the West Bank. Each Darzah piece is handcrafted and hand-embroidered by Darzah. Daily Malong also collaborated with Maggie’s Box in the Philippines, which offers a range of footwear for women who are on the move. Each pair of shoes is handmade in the Philippines. Daily Malong shoes will be provided by Maggie’s Box and Darzah to complete the runway look.
“Bringing indigenous weaving practices to the future perpetuates time-tested traditions, helping the present and protecting the future,” said Querian in a statement. Each indigenous textile worn today assists wearers and weavers to navigate social atrocities, prevent climate changes, and restore a more sustainable ecosystem.”
