PamPinay, an up-and-coming Philippine avant-garde fashion house, will showcase its latest collection on the House of Ikons runway on 18 February 2023 at Leonardo Royal Hotel during London Fashion Week.
The innovative designers of PamPinay, Pamela Gotangco and Christian Belaro, have created a new spin on traditional Filipiniana dresses and costumes like the bolero, the terno and the baro’t saya, making them wearable, sleek and fun.
Ms Gotangco and Ms Belaro’s creative use of sustainable materials such as the binakol and kantarines handwoven fabric from Abra, the embroidery, art and beading of the T’boli tribe in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, and the inabel from the Ilocos region will also be put on display during the fashion show.
The opportunity to showcase its wearable art limited edition at the London Fashion Week is a testament to PamPinay’s creative use of sustainable materials, upcycled pieces and incorporation of handwoven fabrics from Philippine indigenous groups.
The rising fashion brand was born out of the creativity of Gotangco, a multi-awarded visual artist based in Switzerland, and Belaro, a graphic fashioner based in England. At the height of the Covid 19 pandemic in March 2021, the designers set up a social project to help employ Filipina seamstresses and weavers in the Philippines.
Belaro and Gotangco formed an online collaboration when strict travel restrictions were imposed during the pandemic. Both women designed and produced a collection of high-quality wearable art showcasing fully Filipino-crafted designs, with the aim to promote social entrepreneurship, sustainability and responsible branding.
The PamPinay process starts with Gotangco painting the fabric design in Switzerland, Belaro translating the design digitally in the UK, printing the fabrics in the Philippines, and then coordinating with several communities of seamstresses and weavers to create the final product.
With its participation in this year’s London Fashion Week, PamPinay hopes not only to promote Filipino creativity and culture but also to make a positive impact in the fashion world.
PamPinay focuses on promoting ethical fashion, and most importantly, supports women seamstresses in the Philippines. The brand encourages thoughtful consumption based on meaning, culture, and social impact. Both Gotangco and Belaro advocate a slow fashion approach that is observed throughout the entire supply chain – from the ethical sourcing of raw materials to fair trade practices for people, animals, and the environment.
“We promote women empowerment by providing fair income opportunities for seamstresses back home,” both of them shared.
For more information on PamPinay’s London Fashion Week participation, please visit
www.houseofikons.com or info@hoifashionweeklondon.com or pampinay.com/news-updates.
