Jaggy Glarino, along with many other Filipinos during the pandemic, had to resort to out-of the-box thinking for effective problem-solving. He needed to source new materials but was unable to do so. Instead of conceding to this roadblock, he decided to use what he already had on hand.
Thanks to this practical logistical decision, Jaggy is known today not only for his multi dimensional design structures and eye-catching color palettes, but also for being a credible voice on sustainability for the Philippines, and the Asian region.
Pushing the Sustainability Agenda in Asia
The issue of sustainability has been around for decades, but the rise of fast fashion in recent years put the spotlight on the harsh reality of how the fashion industry is contributing to the problem. A silver lining, however, is that it also cracked the door open for sustainability to become part of the conversation and, eventually, the runway.
Jaggy Glarino is proud to be part of this conversation, representing the Philippines in the inaugural Sustasia Fashion Prize. Borne from the creative mind of fashion leader and yehyehyeh founder Shaway Yeh, this design competition, in partnership with the Shanghai Fashion Designers Association, positions itself as “Asia’s first award dedicated to promoting sustainable fashion practices and accelerating innovation across the region.”
Eight designers from six countries (Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Japan and China) will be paired with next-gen materials, such as bio-based leather alternatives, organic silk, plant-based fur, and other recyclable materials. The winner, to be selected by a panel of jurors at the 2025 Shanghai Fashion Week showcase, earns coveted partnerships with high end retail brands to make their runway designs market-ready.
The significance of him representing the country is not lost on Jaggy. After all, it’s not just his brand of sustainability that will be put under scrutiny, but also, what the Philippines itself is doing about it.
Building a Sustainable Brand Synonymous to the Philippines
For Jaggy, being an effective ambassador of sustainability in the Philippine fashion industry means being able to address it on “a very Filipino scale first.” Only then will he be able to effectively sell his Filipino-ness and his vision as a Filipino designer.
“How is sustainability in the Philippines? How am I going to be significant in the Philippines as a designer doing sustainability before other countries can point out that Filipinos are trying to address this problem?”
Understanding the roadblocks within the local fashion industry gives him advantage in developing more creative solutions.
“I wanted a multi-level approach to sustainability,” he said. After all, sustainability in fashion isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
Designing buildable pieces is one way to do it. “A short-sleeved top can transform into a long-sleeved jacket, and the jacket can transform into a skirt or a bag. The more usage you can get out of a garment, the more sustainable it is.”
Recycling materials is another. “It doesn’t have to be new-gen or new tech, never been found or newly invented. But it can be that I’m salvaging yarns from old knitwear, then creating a new piece from it.”
There’s another element to sustainability so crucial, it would be egregious if it were overlooked: the suppliers, artisans, and workers.
Slowly But Surely: The Art of Slow Fabrics
“A community-level approach is also one thing that I’m looking at because it’s not just mass produced for everyone,” he said. “We shouldn’t forget that in the Philippines, the core of our fabrics is natural fibers. We also must keep in the loop local artisans or local weavers who are still doing loom weaving, who are doing the slow process of creating fabrics. In the communities, there are those who do artisanal fabrics, artisanal garments, everything by hand. They are part of the ecosystem.”
Sustainability for Jaggy goes further into “keeping everyone in the loop, in the cycle, including people who might need work.”
By presenting opportunities to small communities, he believes that local industries can become empowered to engage in sustainable practices. “We can look into providing jobs for small communities who can do the technique and teach them how it’s done.” His solihiya technique, used in his signature piece Fu Dalu, for example, “can be done in bags, in home and decor, not just in fashion.”
Embracing Serendipity
“I’m still a baby when it comes to sustainable fashion,” Jaggy insists. “I have a very low-key approach towards sustainability, but I’m trying to adapt it into my design process. It’s a very different approach.”
All things considered, he’s already past the phase of dipping his toes into it, and is now moving deeper along, getting a better feel of the waters, knowing better the way of the currents. These “infant steps” he is taking have already shifted more into exploratory ones. He is exactly where he’s supposed to be, doing exactly what he’s meant to do.
Landing the Sustasia slot wasn’t simply good fortune on his part.’ It’s, what do you call this? Serendipity, yes.”
“Because I acknowledge the problem. I may not be in full gear yet, but that’s the good thing. I know what the problem is, I’m trying to address it, and I have a good thinking of how to approach the challenge.
I’m doing something different, and that really adds to how the problem is going to be solved. So, they know a visionary when they see one. I’m not the messiah of sustainability, but I could be one of the proponents of a really good solution because I think different. That’s the answer the world needs. “
