PIÑA COUTURE, an Anthony Cruz Legarda 30-Year Piña Collection Retrospective

SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 21, 2022 -  Hand woven Filipino fabric is getting attention on global runways these days, thanks in part to fashion designers proud of these indigenous weaves and to organizations such as The Hinabi Project (THP) which is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and practice of the Philippine/American weaving arts in natural fiber.

For its first major exhibit of the year, THP together with KalayaanSF, and in collaboration with the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center, and SOMA Pilipinas, proudly present Anthony Cruz Legarda’s retrospective piña creations in Piña Couture.

This fashion show and gala is part of the celebrations in honor of the 124^th proclamation of Philippine Independence Day. The highly anticipated event will be held on Saturday, June 25 at 6-10 p.m. at the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center at 814 Mission Street, Mezzanine, in downtown San Francisco.

Cruz Legarda, a Filipino American fashion designer and textile technologist, incorporates authentic handwoven fabrics from the Philippines and Asia into distinctive American apparel as well as modernizes luxurious ethnic cloth for the eco-fashion world. Cruz-Legarda is proud of his involvement with Philippine-based organization, CustomMade Crafts Center, whose mission is to promote and expand the market for fairly traded and sustainable Philippine indigenous handicrafts that respects traditions. He has also partnered with the Philippine Textile Research Institute in the development of innovative Philippine fabrics that he transforms into authentic handwoven works of art.

Currently, his creations are on display at the San Francisco International Airport’s Museum at the Harvey Milk Terminal. It will run from April 18 to November 2022.

His works have been featured globally since 2007, dressing the top 8 finalists in the Miss Earth beauty pageant, which promotes environmental awareness. Since then, his eco-friendly clothing collection has been featured in several fashion shows from Manila to Shanghai, Rome, New York, San Francisco and many more. He has been a featured artist at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, The Guggenheim Museum Theater in New York City, and The World Trade Center in Metro Manila. In the past few years, Cruz-Legarda has partnered with the Autism Hearts Foundation in showcasing art works of autistic kids and their colorful paintings on piña fabric from shawls, and fans to Philippine traditional “ternos.”

Cruz-Legarda pursued a degree in Fashion Merchandising at the City College of San Francisco and furthered his education at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, graduating in Fashion Design. For more information on the Piña Couture, please contact Maya Ong Escudero at mayaoe@thehinabiproject.org. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

About The Hinabi Project (THP)
THP is a trans-Pacific organization dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and practice of the Philippine/American weaving arts in natural fiber. In the Philippine Diaspora, THP offers rare opportunities for the younger generation to connect with their indigenous heritage. Natural fiber weaving is an indigenous cultural tradition that embodies community and ancestry. These values invoke balance and harmony between individuals and families, hence, also solidifying communities. Visit https://www.thehinabiproject.org
 

About KalayaanSF
KalayaanSF, named after the Filipino word for “independence,” is a series of events held in San Francisco during the month of June to commemorate and celebrate the anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, which occurred in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898. Organized on an annual basis by the Filipino American community in the Bay Area with the support of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, the celebration showcases Philippine culture and heritage, drawing attention to the contributions Filipinos and Filipino-Americans have made to their communities.

About SOMA Pilipinas
The cultural heritage district spanning 1.5 square miles honors 120+ history of Filipinos in San Francisco, and celebrates the community’s living legacy of making home, celebrating culture, building community, and fighting for economic and racial justice in the rapidly gentrifying South of Market neighborhood. In 2016, the City of San Francisco officially recognized SOMA Pilipinas as SF’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District, under the leadership of the Filipino-American Development Foundation. SOMA Pilipinas is proud to be part of a community-in-action — and a grassroots movement carrying on the legacy of Filipinos fighting for recognition and racial equity. In 2017, SOMA Pilipinas was one of the first selected cultural districts for state designation by the California Arts Council and in 2018 it received the prestigious National Endowment for the Arts “Our Town” grant for creative place-keeping.  

About the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center
SFFCC opened its doors in 2017 to develop and promote appreciation of Filipino arts, culture, cuisine, language and heritage, as well as community preservation through visual arts, and the facilitation of exhibits, performances, special events and community forums; provide educational opportunities with focus on increasing understanding of cultures and history of Asian Americans.