Promising talents in arts, fashion and design continue to emerge from Mountain Province, called a “weaver’s paradise.”
Unknown to many, some popular designers come from Mountain Province. Among them are the late Narda Capuyan of the world-known Narda’s Handwoven Arts and Crafts who hailed from Besao and Sagada, Mountain Province; Graal Cawed of the Topskill Handicrafts which is popular for its exquisite Cordilleran beading and embroidery, is from Bontoc, and Harvic Dominguez, known for his innovation in combining hand woven textile with locally sourced materials to create a ready to wear and made to order ensemble, is from Tadian and Besao-Sagada.
An upcoming local fashion designer is 24-year-old Delfin Daep Pepe Jr. from Otucan Sur, Bauko.
Being able to dress up Montanyosa personalities at his young age, he is starting to carve a name for himself in the fashion world. He is engrossed in sewing clothes and accessories incorporating intricately woven materials that he also most often designs.
Growing up, this 5’6” young talent always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. Taking up bachelor’s degree in Technical Teaching Education Major in Garments at the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College-Tadian Campus, Delfin is able to hone his creative skills hands and landed a job at Rose Ann’s Fabric Gallery in Sagada.
Unlike many of his fellow youngsters who are hooked up on social media and playing video games, he immersed himself in the thing that he loves most which made him able to participate in various fashion shows and expositions like Impakabsat, an event organized by the Department of Trade and Industry to showcase the local products of the Cordillerans.
Delfin shared that he needed to learn how to weave when he worked at Rose Ann’s shop. The systematic process of interlacing the threads and coming up to an artwork made him excited and elated.
Along with learning how to produce clothing using the loom, this pride of Bauko also learned about the various symbols and designs used in woven materials. He explained that each picture, each line and each symbol represents a meaning in the culture of Mountain Province. Each textile design has a story to tell.
“Weaving is hard but it is all worth it when you come up with a beautiful design,” he said.
Through the various trainings and programs provided by the Department of Trade and Industry-Mountain Province, Delfin is now sharing his talents and knowledge as a trainer. He is being tapped by DTI and the Department of Science and Technology, among others, to those who are wanting to learn to weave and to sew especially handloom woven fabric
Delfin, now a graduating student, hopes that more and more young people would become interested in weaving and sewing woven textile into garments and other items as a way to express oneself and to preserve cultural heritage.
Way to go, Dheallphine Daep Pepe.
Customers may contact him thru mobile phone 09502033126 and 09636113510 or send a message at facebok page Rose Ann's Fabric Gallery. (JDP/CEBT-PIA CAR, Mt. Province)
