brand ’ s merchandise made in the Philippines , the governing spirit of the enterprise was one rooted in heritage , sustainability , and a celebration of Philippine craftsmanship .
One such practice is handweaving , a traditional art found in many provinces of the Philippines . It ’ s a sustainable practice in that it makes little to no use of electricity , and creates less carbon emission than modern production methods . It also supports local communities that often have trouble sustaining their livelihood . “ Handweaving was a good place to start – it is ethical , sustainable , and we could already envision how we could reimagine the traditional weaves to fit Bayo ' s designs for the modern Filipina ,” says the co-CEO .
Efforts were made to discover weaving communities in Aklan , Cebu , Baguio , Mindoro , and in Bulacan particularly the Ambension Silk Enterprise . The weavers created handmade textiles from fabric scraps for Bayo to use in their designs , which in turn , provided a steady income for their communities , and preservation of the craft .
At the end of 2020 , Bayo looked into collaborating with local farmers to source fibers from . This ushered in the founding of the Philippine Textile Council ’ s HABI , an organization that supports the farm-to-fiber model . In 2021 , Bayo launched a capsule collection with HABI , showcasing locally farmed cotton and handmade weaves that shared the provenance of each piece . “ Bayo x HABI ultimately meant to highlight the potential of our local resources and practices – how they can be used for designs at par with global products ,” says Lagon .
Bayo also collaborated with local farmers to create another kind of natural textile – silk . “ It ’ s an industry that needs reviving for the good of our local sericulture farmers and the environment too , and as a fashion brand , it was a perfect match ,” offers
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... it ’ s not about just uplifting Bayo alone , but the industry as a whole – we want to prove that fashion can be done in a way that is good to the earth and the people in it .
Lagon . Philippine silk can be produced in cooler areas like the Cordillera Administrative Region , together with their local government , Bayo created batches of local silk and explored production of pieces rendered in this delicate yet sustainable fabric .
A year into their journey as a member of the UNGC , Bayo continues its collaboration with local makers for their production line . But in late 2021 , the company decided to take it a step further by creating the Community Partnership Program , a project where local makers could make their own designs and sell them on Bayo ’ s online platform . “ This gave the local communities insight into the conceptualization and marketing portion of fashion-making , not just producing the textile for someone else ’ s designs ,” mentioned the co-CEO . The project allowed them a kind of independence , learning how to transform their province ’ s traditional art into marketable , modern-day products .
From a retail journey that initially saw Lagon as a supplier and merchandise provider for retail , and Bayo ’ s first foray into the fashion industry as a mom-and-pop store in Makati , three decades of growth has led to over 60 branches across the nation and countless projects geared towards nation-building and rural revitalization . In each project , the brand never loses sight of the bigger picture –“ it ’ s not about just uplifting Bayo alone , but the industry as a whole – we want to prove that fashion can be done in a way that is good to the earth and the people in it .”
As such , Lagon is proud of sharing Bayo ’ s projects , hoping it can serve as inspiration for other companies to make that much-needed shift towards sustainability .
As for what ’ s next for Bayo , the co-CEO shares the launch of their newest campaign , ‘ Made for Life ’ that attempts to revolutionize the way we approach fashion . Garments are no longer considered only for a couple of wears , but as pieces that can populate a closet for years to come , shared with loved ones and friends , and taken good care of to ensure it will last — a narrative that is consistent with today ’ s guidelines on sustainable fashion .
“ I am always guided by the dictum of ‘ Profit with Honor ,’ offers Lagon , “ while profit is important in maintaining an enterprise , it should always be accompanied with the responsibility of being a steward of the environment . Your profits can be used as a vital tool to empower communities and improve lives — if we are able to humbly achieve any of these , we can say our journey has been worthwhile .”