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Fashion becomes more meaningful when it carries a story—and at The Southern Weave 2026, Davao’s young fashion talents proved that heritage and contemporary design can beautifully share the same runway.

Held at the SM City Davao Expansion Wind, August 14, 2026, during the Kadayawan season, Southern Weave 2026 brought together the Davao Junior Fashion Designers in a celebration of creativity, culture, craftsmanship, and the rich visual identity of Mindanao.

The showcase was more than a fashion presentation. It was a reminder that the next generation of Davao designers is already creating its own voice while continuing to draw inspiration from the traditions and artistry of the South.

Photo credit: Davao Junior Fashion Designers Facebook Page

The event was presented in partnership with the Davao Junior Fashion Designers and SM City Davao, continuing Southern Weave's mission of putting local creative talent in the spotlight. Recent coverage of the 2026 show likewise describes it as a Kadayawan showcase celebrating young Davao designers and Mindanao culture.

Ten Young Designers, Ten Distinctive Voices

The runway featured ten Davao-based junior designers whose individual aesthetics brought different interpretations of contemporary Mindanawon fashion.

Arthur Andrade — Maison Andrade

Arthur Andrade, creative force behind Maison Andrade, brought a dramatic and sophisticated sensibility to the collection. His work demonstrates how traditional inspiration can be transformed into fashion with a strong modern identity.

Assi Castañaga — Assisi Studios

Assi Castañaga of Assisi Studios showcased a distinctive approach that blends structure, detail, and theatrical elements. Her designs reflect the confidence of a young designer unafraid to experiment with silhouettes and styling.

Red Antipolo — Poliquit

Known professionally through Poliquit, Red Antipolo brought an artistic and experimental perspective to the runway. His work explores volume, texture, and unconventional fabric treatments, giving heritage-inspired fashion a distinctly contemporary character.

Sittie Guijada Anwar — Layallah

Sittie Guijada Anwar, the designer behind Layallah, offered a vibrant interpretation of modest fashion. Her work demonstrates that modest dressing can be expressive, colorful, sophisticated, and fashion-forward.

Jena May Quitoga — Nene

Jena May Quitoga of Nene presented pieces centered on textures, patterns, and carefully considered silhouettes. Her collection showed how understated elements can be transformed into visually compelling contemporary fashion.

Jane Ponggo — Etea

Jane Ponggo, the creative behind Etea, brought a youthful and playful energy to Southern Weave. Her designs explore a fresh meeting point between Mindanawon inspiration and modern, youthful aesthetics.

Roland Boyles — B.oyles

Roland Boyles of B.oyles offered an ethereal interpretation of fashion, with designs that play with movement, transparency, and light. His aesthetic added a dreamlike quality to the runway.

Bien Cedric Catubig — Bien Catubig

Bien Cedric Catubig, founder and designer of Bien Catubig, presented a softer and romantic interpretation of contemporary fashion. His designs demonstrate how color, botanical inspiration, and feminine silhouettes can work together to create a modern Mindanawon identity.

Bon Gilles

Bon Gilles added another distinctive voice to Southern Weave 2026, contributing a creative interpretation of contemporary fashion and demonstrating the diversity of design perspectives among Davao’s young fashion talents.

Milpe Blass Palmares

Milpe Blass Palmares also took part in the showcase, bringing a personal creative vision to the runway and further highlighting the individuality and versatility of Davao’s emerging designers.

These 10 names have also been identified in coverage of Southern Weave and the Davao Junior Fashion Designers, with the 2026 event continuing the group's emphasis on heritage, artistry, and local creative talent.

Where Heritage Meets the Future

What makes Southern Weave particularly significant is its ability to present Mindanao culture without making it feel frozen in the past.

Instead of simply reproducing traditional clothing, the designers interpreted heritage through their own creative languages—experimenting with silhouettes, fabrics, textures, patterns, colors, and contemporary styling.

That approach gives traditional craftsmanship a new audience.

It also reflects the changing landscape of Davao's fashion community, where young designers are finding opportunities to establish their identities and contribute fresh perspectives to the local industry.

The 2026 edition of Southern Weave similarly highlighted how the Davao Junior Fashion Designers used handwoven textiles, indigenous patterns, and traditional crafts while embracing a more forward-thinking approach to design.

Fashion as a Celebration of Kadayawan

There could hardly be a more fitting season for Southern Weave than Kadayawan.

Kadayawan is a celebration of abundance, culture, gratitude, and the diverse communities of Davao. Fashion becomes another medium through which those stories can be expressed.

At Southern Weave 2026, the runway became a moving tapestry—each designer contributing a different thread to a larger story about Mindanao.

The result was not simply a collection of beautiful clothes, it was a celebration of where these young designers come from, what inspires them, and where they hope to take Davao fashion next.

A New Generation Takes the Spotlight

Events such as Southern Weave matter because emerging designers need more than talent. They need platforms, audiences, opportunities, and spaces where their creativity can be seen.

The presence of these ten young designers at SM City Davao demonstrates that there is a growing creative community in the city ready to take its place in the fashion industry.

Their work reminds us that the future of Davao fashion does not have to choose between heritage and innovation.

It can have both.

And perhaps that is the most beautiful message of Southern Weave 2026: Mindanao's story continues to be woven—one designer, one collection, and one runway at a time.

The Davao Junior Fashion Designers of Southern Weave 2026

Arthur Andrade • Assi Castañaga • Red Antipolo • Sittie Guijada Anwar • Jena May Quitoga • Jane Ponggo • Roland Boyles • Bien Cedric Catubig • Bon Gilles • Milpe Blass Palmares 

Their names may be young in the fashion industry, but their creative voices are already becoming part of Davao's evolving fashion story.

Kadayawan will be celebrated after 2 years from hiatus because of the pandemic, this time the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Executive Committee has given the green lights to hold face-to-face festival activities from August 15 to 21, 2022. Indeed, a celebration after the lockdowns and the never ending guidelines and protocols.

I'm excited to witness again the Indak-Indak, Pamulak, Pitik sa Kadayawan and Sayaw Kadayawan. With the theme - KADAYAWAN SA DAVAO 2022: Celebration "Kasikas sa Kadayawan", the Festival activities would showcase "Bantawan" - a cultural show by Davao City's 11 tribes, the Dula Kadayawan or tribal games, and Hiyas ng Kadayawan.

And speaking of the eleven tribes, if you are a tourist's or a guest here in Davao City and you're looking for a nice "pasalubong" or souvenirs/gift that has a taste of Davao or Mindanaoan thingy visit ALDEVINCO at POBLACION MARKET CENTRAL.

Yes, Aldevinco was relocated to a new home at the Poblacion Market Central former location of Madrazo Fruit Stand, C. Bangoy St., Davao City.

Here you can see a curated collection of different Mindanao dresses, jewelries, etc., that are rooted in honouring the extraordinary skills of Mindanaoan artisans.

Bringing the culture of Mindanao to a broader audience and better place, the Aldevinco stores packed with bespoke pieces that speak loudly about the rich culture of the Davao 11 Tribes and the neighbouring cities in Mindanao. 

Here are some of the photos taken by Stephanie Lim of the Davao Social Media and Content Creators, during our random tour inside the Poblacion Market Central.

MODERN MINDANAO CLOTHING

One-of-a-kind pieces like hand beaded, hand embroidered and handwoven crafts made by the Mindanao Indigenous tribes.

Weaving the best of Southern Mindanao tradition with this modern wearable bags, shoes and accessories.

Now, Davao LGU is prepping up for the F2F Kadayawan Festival celebration as well as the people of Davao City are excited to welcome guests and visitors, we are still following public health standards, though the activities will be held in an open spaces, wearing of face mask is still required. 

If you happen to visit Davao City, drop by at Poblacion Market Central and help bring indigenous Mindanao artistry not just here in the Philippines but also to the world.

Madayaw Dabaw!

Happy Kadayawan Festival to all!

And for Kadayawan updates, you may check posts on Kadayawan sa Dabaw Official Facebook Page.