Design Thesis Research || Problem Definition Draft #2

The damages and influence of Spanish and US colonization are ever-present in almost all aspects of Filipino culture and society, one of the most obvious being the continued westernization of Filipino culture resulting in the erasure of the country’s indigenous communities. With the dominance of western clothing brands in the Filipino fashion industry and the popularity of light skinned Filipino celebrities, it is clear that the country’s cultural identity has long been removed from its original cultural roots, seen clearly in the erasure of Indigenous Filipino art and design practices in the country’s modern design industry. While efforts have been made in order to bring indigenous art and textile practices into the Filipino fashion industry with brands such as Filip+inna and Annie & Lorrie working closely with indigenous groups in order to allow their art and culture to reach larger audiences, the country is still largely dominated by American and European brands such as Forever 21 and Zara. In order to counter the erasure of Indigenous communities and their influence in Filipino country, it is necessary for these indigenous fashion brands to improve their reach and reach larger audiences, reviving the nation’s interest in indigenous art and design.