AFTER incorporating 10 Philippine fabrics into its designs and landing at various international fashion events, this homegrown enterprise has further expanded its wings by stepping up its corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment.
It can be recalled that Tagum City-based Musa Fabric introduced earlier this year some of its newest designs featuring the textile of other regions, complementing its very own banana fiber. Tinalak, inaul, yakan, piña, hablon, abel Apayao, abel Iloco, pinukpuk, binakul, and ikat. The creations of the Filipino designers who are part of Tagumenya Gleizl Joy Soo's House of Musa even landed on the stage of the New York Fashion Week.
The launch of Musa Fabric and later on the establishment of the House of Musa are proofs of Soo's undying motivation to create a positive impact on the lives of many people. Likewise, it has always been her dream to put Philippine designs on the map of the international fashion scene.
What she started in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, has already become an inspiration to numerous designers. The House of Musa has also carved its name in various runway shows worldwide – from New York to Japan to Switzerland to Paris and other destinations.
Soo explained that the House of Musa is not hers alone. This represents the collaboration of efforts among different Filipino designers.
Soo is a graduate of the Kapatid Mentor Me (KMME) program, a brainchild of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE)-Go Negosyo and being implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
According to her, her learnings from the 10-module mentorship program helped her in maximizing her talents and resources. It paved the way for her discovery of what she is capable of, especially in making a positive change.
The increasing number of designs and product lines coupled with the growing interest in the brand has pushed more orders. Hence, the House of Musa needs to hire more crafters – from the group of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) to the indigenous peoples and those in the nearby communities. While this can be a challenging phase, it is surely a "happy" development.
With the continued success of the brand, Soo shared that she is determined to give back more and pay it forward. Thus, the Musa Pink Foundation for cancer patients and their families was born.
The newest CSR of Musa Fabric and the House of Musa is in partnership with LaserPro Davao, with Dr. Grace Madis, an OB-GYN, at the helm. The Musa Pink Foundation was launched in June this year in Davao City, featuring the creations and designs not only of Soo but of other designers as well.
For her part, DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi noted that the agency is ecstatic whenever it hears about the success of its programs. She revealed that while DTI has advocated for the adoption of its interventions among client entrepreneurs, the latter's commitment still plays the biggest role.
"If the entrepreneurs are open to participating in our programs and projects, and when they are adamant about innovating and improving their current processes, their condition will surely change.
This is the main reason why we really encourage their commitment because it is only through it that they will realize that there is more to discover about their businesses and there are more opportunities to tap that can help them succeed further," the trade official said.
Ambi congratulated the House of Musa for doing its best to sustain its growth while maintaining its passion for helping others.
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