Filipinianas are getting a fresh, modern look, thanks to brands like Pinas Sadya. This local brand, started by Valerie Peramide-Fischer and Skeeter Labastilla-Turgut, is leading the way. They’re blending our rich past with today’s styles, helping a new generation wear their Filipino pride with joy.
The story of Pinas Sadya began in a very personal way. Valerie Peramide-Fischer shared that her own DIY wedding in 2019, which celebrated old Filipino traditions, sparked the idea. “It feels like everything’s come full circle now,” she said. At a time when both Valerie and Skeeter were looking for something new, they saw that it was hard to find really good Filipino products that weren’t just for export. This idea led them to start Pinas Sadya as an online store, bringing together Filipino-made items from about 55 different provinces.
Pinas Sadya Founders Valerie Peramide-Fischer and Skeeter Labastilla-Turgut
But Pinas Sadya truly found its special spark when Skeeter Labastilla-Turgut, as she put it, “became her own person” and realized she was talented at design. This was a big moment for the brand, turning it from just a store into a creative force. Now, they make their own unique pieces that many Filipinos and people around the world love.
The name “Pinas Sadya” itself is a beautiful mix of Filipino words. “Pinas” is a common, short way to say “Philippines.” “Sadya” has two meanings: in Bisaya, it means “joy,” and in Tagalog, it means “purpose.” When you put them together, it means something made just for you, or with a special reason. For Skeeter, the brand’s goal is to inspire Filipinos to love local products. For Valerie, it’s about showing off the Philippines to the rest of the world. And both agree on one key thing: they want their customers to feel joy when they buy something from Pinas Sadya.
Pinas Sadya’s designs are special because they often have many panels. This means they smoothly combine traditional weaves from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao into one piece of clothing. “When our customers see that their province is in the design, they feel drawn to it right away,” Valerie explained. This shows how the brand connects with Filipinos’ strong pride in their home regions.
Skeeter’s creative process, which she once had to figure out, now flows easily. She starts with colors, moving from what she thought people wanted to what she personally likes. She tries out unusual color pairs, like “brown and green, lilac and fatigue green,” before moving on to textures. She then thinks about what’s practical, making sure to use fabrics well. Finally, she focuses on the shape of the clothing, often making versatile “pampatong” (overlay) pieces that look good on women in their 40s and older. The part she enjoys most is putting everything together—”combining the fabrics.”
View this post on Instagram
One of the biggest things Pinas Sadya is doing is changing how we see Filipiniana. Skeeter strongly believes we should wear our Filipino heritage every day. “You don’t need a special event to proudly wear modern Filipiniana,” she said. “Let’s make it normal to wear, live, and keep our heritage alive, no matter where you are. It’s for daily wear, for looking fancy, for making a statement. It’s for being the star at the airport, or at a meeting, wearing Filipiniana.”
They achieve this modern feel not by sticking to old shapes, but by cleverly combining traditional Filipino weaves and fabrics. Skeeter talks about her deep respect for all regions and their unique textiles. She mentioned the delicate pis syabit, saying she used to find it hard to cut because it’s so special. She also admires Kantarines, Binakol, Pinilian, Kalinga weaves, and Hablon.
View this post on Instagram
For Valerie and Skeeter, the main goal is for people to feel joy and pride when they wear Pinas Sadya. This fits with their belief that it’s important to support Filipino-made clothing. In a world full of fast fashion, choosing local is “a quiet (and sometimes bold!) way of saying, ‘I know who I am, and I’m proud of where I come from.'” Every Pinas Sadya piece shows history, skill, and helps people make a living, supporting artists and keeping old traditions alive. “You know you’re helping someone with the choices you make,” Valerie said, pointing out the good impact of their brand.
View this post on Instagram
For years, they’ve consistently supported weaving communities, increasing their volume of orders with groups like the Binakol weavers in Abra, Inabel weavers in Ilocos, Kantarines weavers in Isabela, and Hablon weavers in Negros. Their journey began with the Tboli Tribe of South Cotabato in 2019, blending ancient T’nalak patterns with modern designs. As demand grew, they expanded their partnerships to include the Bagobo Tribe of Digos for their distinctive Tangkulo weaves. Beyond textiles, Pinas Sadya has also nurtured a community of single mothers in Pandi, Bulacan, who meticulously handweave the intricate beadwork. This dedication is supported by four production hubs located in Cavite, Marikina, Bulacan, and Taytay, bustling with skilled patternmakers and seamstresses who bring each Pinas Sadya piece to life.
View this post on Instagram
Pinas Sadya also supports the slow fashion movement. They make small batches of clothes, meaning they focus on quality over making many items quickly. Their production team is careful not to waste fabric, turning scraps into tags or using them in new designs. This commitment to being sustainable shows their ethical approach.
The brand has become popular, with famous people like former Vice-President Leni Robredo, Bretman Rock, Jessica Soho, and Ryan Cayabyab wearing their pieces.
View this post on Instagram
Looking ahead, Pinas Sadya plans to grow in three ways: boosting their online presence to reach Filipinos everywhere, making their stores more accessible, and taking part in more events like pop-ups and cultural fairs. Their new store in SM Mall of Asia is a big step, letting them reach new customers and share the story of Filipino craftsmanship with more people.
View this post on Instagram
In the end, Pinas Sadya remains true to its main goal: “to make Filipino craftsmanship easy to wear, relatable, and a source of joy and pride — here and everywhere else in the world.”
View this post on Instagram
Keep an eye out for their exciting August collection, which will be launched at the well-known Artefino and Maarte fairs. This collection will be special because it will be their first time using the beautiful piña fabric.Pinas Sadya: Weaving Filipino Heritage into Modern Style
Besides their own stunning designs, the Pinas Sadya store in SM Mall of Asia also proudly features other Filipino brands. These include Calli bags, Farah Abu earrings, pillows and storage boxes from Malingkat Weaves, the signed book “Filipiniana is Forever” by Patis Tesoro, and a weave book from Anthill, making it a great place to find many wonderful local products.
Pinas Sadya
📍The Mall of Asia, Main Entrance, Ground Floor
