ZAACA Crafters Benefit from John Ablaza Workshops

This past July several ZAACA members were privileged to be invited to attend workshops by world renowned designer John Ablaza from the Phillipines. Our members were invited by Gail Mawocha of Mustard Seed Africa to participate in collaborative workshops where new ideas and designs were born. Crafters worked with designers, photographers and models at the Kusika Design Center at Doone Estate, Masasa. The workshops covered design techniques, use of natural materials and avant-garde design.

Photo Credit: Jhenny Morales Evans

Ablaza’s career is renowned for his passion in using sustainable raw materials and natural products to create his designs. He is known for his structured creations with simple lines and defined patterns; deriving much of his inspiration from nature. His passion can further be appreciated in his Couture and Culture Fashion Show, having founded the platform so as to merge his passion for fashion and eco-friendly designs by bridging the gap between his native Philippine culture and fashion. Couture and Culture fashion show has showcased in several international continents including the United States, Canada, parts of Europe and Asia as well as his home country of Manila, Philippines.

With a career that has spanned over 25 years, John Ablaza is a designer that seeks to make the world a better place by bringing fashion and culture together to create haute couture. His designs are further not limited to couture gowns and garments but accommodates his high class bags, fashion accessories and renowned haute couture bowtie collection embellished with natural materials like coco beads, seeds and seashell. Ablaza is a designer that truly appreciates the environment, the people and the things that he sees around him every day whilst accommodating the different natural elements found in the Philippines; such as highly sustainable coco shells, coco beads, wood beads, lumbang, sisgid and dalet.

A fashion show to showcase the results was held on August 4th at the National Art Gallery. ZAACA crocheters stole the show with their jaw dropping crochet dresses and tops. However everyone’s work was exciting to see on the runway - from recycled soda can lids to wire geckos, wicker embellishments and paper hats! Our workshops and the fashion show itself were hosted by the US Embasssy, so naturally the US Ambassador and his wife were the guests of honour. What an inspiring week it was!