Woven in heritage, designed for the world

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 26, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Tribo Estilo by G&G

What happens when the patterns woven by generations of Cordilleran communities find their way onto modern silhouettes?

For Genesis Galap Gonzales, the answer is Tribo Estilo by G&G — a fashion brand from Ifugao turning traditional Cordilleran textiles into pieces designed for today’s wardrobes and runways.

The brand works with Ifugao and Cordillera handweaves, incorporating materials such as authentic Ikat and Inabel into contemporary designs. Instead of keeping indigenous textiles confined to traditional clothing, Gonzales blends them with fabrics like organza and modern tailoring to create pieces that can move from the workplace to formal occasions.

Photo Courtesy: Tribo Estilo by G&G

Its collection includes smart-casual Barongs, Filipiniana tops, graduation and oath-taking attire, and pageant gowns, giving traditional patterns a place in different moments of modern Filipino life.

But for Tribo Estilo, the story is not simply about making traditional fabric fashionable. Each weave carries a connection to the communities and traditions that produced it.

That connection has also taken the brand beyond Ifugao. Tribo Estilo has been featured in regional and international showcases, including the MABIKA Inabel Showcase in Hong Kong, while its designs have also reached pageant stages in Türkiye.

The brand maintains its roots in Ifugao, with its studio and office based in Lagawe, while also expanding its presence in Baguio.

For Gonzales, every modern silhouette becomes an opportunity to keep heritage visible.

And as Cordilleran patterns appear on contemporary clothes and international runways, Tribo Estilo is showing that indigenous fashion does not have to stay in the past, it can evolve, travel and still carry where it came from.