“The collection is called Hablonuevo, ‘cause it’s a new weave now. We’ve ventured on new colors and textures, as well as a whole new fabric and fiber blend,” Dexter muses.
JCI Zugbuana, an all-female leadership training organization dedicated to the development of business and civic leaders, take pride in their 2018 socio-civic development projects such as back to school outreach activities, health care, and this time, forwarding awareness for local fashion.
Gracing Ayala Center Cebu last May 19, 2018, the JCI “Zugs” as they would likely call themselves, showed the audience quite a great show with their own designs produced by Alazas and the “weaving warriors” of Argao, Cebu. The event was not all sashays and glamour, as it took part in raising awareness to revive the hablon de Cebu weaving industry and the essence of social entrepreneurship.
To bring back the livelihood of dozens of women weavers, the fashion show paves way for the reinvestment of profits to the hablon industry, which benefits not only the weavers, but also society and the rich Cebuano culture.
With some of them with their mini-me’s in tow, the JCI Zugbuanas strutted the runway with Alazas’ products complemented by also fellow Zugbuana, Jarra Angbetic’s jewelry collection. A melange of silk and satins suited the hablon collection which mirrored each of the Zugbuana’s character and style.
Inspired by views of feminism and women empowerment, the florals and pastel hues paved way for the contemporary image of the hablon weave. “The idea is to make the Hablon de Cebu a fabric of choice for gala nights”, adds Dexter. The runway bloomed like the garden was placed indoors with over a hundred flower displays by no less than Jaime Chua.
The fashion show was also a prelude to the ongoing campaign of promoting the local silk to be launched in Cebu in the coming years, shares the fashion designer. He adds that it is his 2020 mission-vision to cultivate this local material into a force to be reckoned with.
Dexter also expresses the need to get into fashion’s sustainable side, strutting the developments of slow and sustainable fashion using renewable and eco-friendly raw materials found in nature in his fashion lines.
Available for design stints, Alazas shares that the hablon design industry offers designing services if one wishes to take home a hablon piece themselves. Hoping that the event be developed annually, still showcasing Cebu’s local resources, weavers and design, Dexter shares the vision to take the hablon fashion to full bloom.
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