Ditta Sandico will hold her 40th anniversary show, ‘Quadrova by Ditta,’ on May 29 at 5 pm at the Manila House Private Club, Seven Neo Building, 5th Avenue, Taguig. Proceeds will go to the Mindoro Mangyan Weavers
Forty years ago, I turned away from mainstream fashion. Instead of creating trend-driven clothing, I explored my own cultural heritage, recalling the inabel blankets from my mother’s home in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, and the embroidered cotton wraps from my father’s province in Oriental Mindoro.
I became a pioneer in modernizing Filipiniana, helping local weavers make their fabrics more marketable. Four decades with my namesake brand have revealed the deep connections woven into every thread. It began simply—a personal project with a single weaver, providing livelihood for her family. Before my eyes, that small effort blossomed into a thriving community.
Dita Sandico’s ‘Lafoglia Pink” mulitiple banaca wraps over gown with coco banaca swirls
I must have taken the right first steps. Yes, the Ditta Sandico brand has seen its share of successes and setbacks—haven’t we all? But I’ve stayed true to my core purpose. The rewards have been tangible for the banaca (abaca) and sedalino (silk linen) weaving communities in Catanduanes and Bulacan, respectively, and now, the Mangyan weavers.
For me, however, the rewards have been far more profound and intangible.
My journey with the Mangyan Hanunuo weavers began in 2018, a return to my roots. In my childhood, my father, a cattle rancher, took me to the boondocks of Mindoro, where I encountered the Mangyans. Witnessing how they transformed plant fibers into exquisite fabrics captivated me. However, life took me on a different path after school, when I worked as a fashion merchandiser for our family business and establishing my namesake label.
Weavers with Ditta Sandico (in white shirt, front row)
While I was working at COD Department Store, a weaver from Catanduanes introduced me to the possibilities of woven abaca, a relative of the banana plant. Abaca quickly became a staple in my collections.
Ditta Sandico involved in every step of the community process
Decades later, my fashion journey had a full circle moment. A friend suggested I visit the workshop of Fr. Dennis Flynn, SVD, my father’s longtime friend. Father Dennis dedicated his priesthood to serving the Mangyan people of Mindoro. For 20 years, he provided pastoral care and founded the Calamintao Project to introduce modern agricultural techniques. He later returned to the Philippines after serving Australian Aborigines, spending his final two decades again serving the Mangyan community.
In his studio, I met Alpog Eping Mayot, a Mangyan teacher and community leader. This serendipitous encounter led me to discover the creative talents of the young women of Panaytayan, Mansalay, in Oriental Mindoro. They produced the ramit, the cotton fabric with bird’s eye patterns.
Ditta Sandico’s ‘Vega’ silver corset and skirt in banaca with turquoise accent
Time flew by, and soon I was collaborating with these remarkable women, exploring ways to upcycle fabric into beads. I taught them how to hand-roll the fabric and embellish it, transforming discarded materials into something beautiful and meaningful. Looking back, I believe our meeting was more than chance—it was a form of divine intervention.
Soon I was collaborating with these remarkable women, exploring ways to upcycle fabric into beads. I taught them how to hand-roll the fabric and embellish it, transforming discarded materials into something beautiful and meaningful
A few years later, I met another exceptional woman, Anya Postma, daughter of Dutch anthropologist Antoon Postma, who was married to a local. She has been continuing her father’s legacy of preserving Mangyan culture in Mindoro, particularly their unique writing system and the ambahan poetry. Postma has been working with the Mangyan Heritage Center, Inc. to document, preserve, and share this rich cultural heritage. This meeting was another cause for celebration, as I had been searching for a place to build a small hut where the women could gather and share their stories. Anya readily cooperated, and a few months later, we built a small sanctuary—a place where they could escape the pressures of daily life and connect with one another.
I made it a point to visit the women at least monthly. We would sit together, share stories, and discuss ways to enhance not only their craft, but also their lives. Building trust and rapport was a gradual process, allowing their experiences to unfold naturally. Understandably, they had doubts about the longevity of our collaboration, and I had my own uncertainties. However, as time passed, their talent and hard work spoke for themselves. Our friendships deepened, and our trust grew stronger.
The Ditta Sandico label has been offering the habol, woven cotton used for wrap skirts and infant’s clothes. Their embroidered panels are made into shawls, skirts and accents for shirts and jackets.
Weaving center
I envision our journey continuing to reach new heights, further empowering these women and instilling in them a deeper sense of pride in their work. I never imagined alternative fashion could support a family, much less a whole community. But when I embraced the seemingly impossible and passionately pursued my vision, I discovered a level of fulfillment I’d never known. I thought I was the one making a difference, but it turns out, these lives have transformed mine.
‘Quadrova by Ditta,’ Ditta Sandico’s 40th anniversary show, will be held May 29, 5 pm at the Manila House Private Club, Seven Neo Building, 5th Avenue, Taguig. Proceeds will go to the Mindoro Mangyan Weavers
The Ditta Sandico showroom is at 5 Mabolo St., New Manila, Quezon City. Check out the Ditta Channel on YouTube, IG@ditta_sandico, and her website dittachannel.com
Assistant designer: Janina Santos; photography and editing: Arthur Tselishchev; hair and makeup assistant: Jonnah; models: Tatiana Maher, Issa De Los Santos
