LIKHÂ founder and CEO Nathalie Llorente-Lim (left) with Tory Burch

There was a time when Filipino representation abroad could make us unusually happy—a few seconds of a Philippine flag or filming location in a movie, a character saying a line in Tagalog, a Hollywood star casually mentioning that he or she has “Filipino blood.” We celebrated the smallest acknowledgments because, for so long, simply being seen already felt like an achievement.

We mock each other for making a big deal out of someone popular with even a fraction of Filipino heritage who made it to an international stage. Underlying that, it was obvious that we wanted proof that we belonged in the global conversation.

Today, something has shifted. Filipino talent is no longer appearing only on the sidelines. BINI made its Coachella debut this year, while SB19 became the first Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Filipino makeup brands are increasingly finding audiences abroad, while Filipino creators, artists, and entrepreneurs continue to build international followings.

And then there is Forgotten Island, DreamWorks Animation’s Filipino-inspired feature that brings together Liza Soberano, H.E.R., Lea Salonga, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, and Jo Koy, among others, with Philippine folklore and culture being the movie’s focus.

We are seeing Filipinos not merely being mentioned but being given space. And now, Philippine craftsmanship is having its own moment in fashion.

Iconic fashion brand Tory Burch has collaborated with LIKHÂ, the Filipino social enterprise founded by Nathalie Llorente-Lim. They joined forces in coming up with the Ella hand-crocheted popcorn stitch bucket bag, a dark cocoa bag made from natural abaca and handcrafted in the Philippines. The bag is now being sold exclusively in the United States through Tory Burch.

The collaboration between Tory Burch and LIKHÂ, showcases Filipino artistry and creating sustainable livelihoods for artisan communities

LIKHÂ means “to create.” Its mission is to reimagine traditional Filipino craftsmanship for the global market while creating sustainable livelihoods for artisan communities. The brand works with artisans across the Philippines, transforming materials such as abaca, seagrass, palm, coconut coir, and other natural materials into contemporary home, fashion, and lifestyle pieces.

What makes the Tory Burch collaboration especially meaningful is that the story does not stop at the finished bag. The Ella model took 2.5 years to develop.

Behind its seemingly simple silhouette were years of sampling, refining, problem-solving, and figuring out how to bring an artisan-made product into the production requirements of a global fashion house without losing the most important part. That is the hand of the artisan. And those hands have names.

Nancy, one of the weavers behind the bag, learned her craft by watching the aunts who raised her and has been weaving since she was around 18.

Her reaction to seeing the finished product is the most powerful description of what representation really means: “Oh! That’s mine, I made that!”

The collaboration showcases the hard work and talent of Filipinos in terms of craftmanship

Eldren, a LIKHÂ seamstress who began sewing as a teenager, expressed a similar pride in seeing something she helped create reach beyond the Philippines: “I feel proud and happy knowing the products I made have made it outside the Philippines.”

That is the part of global recognition we sometimes forget.

A Filipino product reaching New York is not simply about a foreign brand putting a Philippine-made item on a shelf. It is about the person who twisted the fiber, made the knot, stitched the piece, and finished the bag knowing that something made by their hands is now being carried somewhere thousands of miles away.

There is another beautiful connection here. Llorente-Lim was named a 2024 Tory Burch fellow, independently of the collaboration. The fellowship and the LIKHÂ-Tory Burch partnership happened on separate paths.

I am especially proud of Nats because I have seen her growth in business in the Philippines years ago. She grew a brand from scratch. And built another one in the US, now finding its place on the global stage. Her heart has always had that longing to make a difference in the lives of marginalized communities. She now tags them along in her success.

From entertainment to music, beauty to fashion, the Philippines is slowly moving beyond the season when we had to celebrate a mere mention.

Now, we are creating the work. We are proudly carrying the culture. And thankfully, the world pays attention.

I happily think this is the new Filipino flex. The reality that the Pinoy branding is not just being seen but being sought (and bought!) and given due credit. We are no longer just getting a mere mention. Thanks to hard work and talent, Filipinos are making a global impression. — Kate Adajar