Fil-Am Designer Grace Brucal Showcase Sustainable Fashion in Milan

Cover image: Jenny Cristobal Junio

MILAN, Italy — Filipino-American designer Grace Brucal has showcased sustainable fashion in her collections at Milan Fashion Week.

Brucal showcased over 10 red and gold gowns, mostly made from her hometown in Albay, Bicol, which symbolize happiness, prosperity, wealth, and good fortune. This was her first Milan Fashion Week event.

"My goal is to uplift people, give an inspiration and hope after (pandemic) lock down, help manage anxiety and depression of many and help sustain livelihood, especially in the Philippines," Brucal told TFCN in phone interview.

She supports sustainable fashion, which helps reduce its environmental impacts, protect workers producing garments, and uphold animal welfare.

Brucal is a physical therapist and autism specialist and originally from Polangui, Albay, Bicol.

She migrated in the US with her family in 2003 and graduated Physical Therapy from Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila, Philippines.

Meanwhile, she was inspired by the fashion shows in New York to start creating her own designs, especially when she watched 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach in one of her fashion shows in 2019.

To turn her passion into reality, she established her own small business, Steadfast Creative Arts Production LLC, and is now creating boleros, Filipiniana-inspired gowns, and other modern gowns.

Initially, Brucal put up her business to provide a livelihood to some weavers and seamstress in Albay during the pandemic.

"Most of my gowns are created in Philippines. We have helped feeding activities and flood relief too continuously from 2020. I raise funds for small town feeding program," Brucal said.

Brucal is one of the three Filipino fashion designers who showcased their Spring/Summer 2027 collections at the recent Milan Fashion week.

The other Filipino designers include Korn Taylor from Milan, Italy and Mitch Desunia from Manila.

They were part of the 13 different fashion designers who participated in the Timeless Beauty event, organized by Jenny's Creativity, led by its producer and director Jenny Cristobal Junio, last September 27, at the Venue Santa Barnaba Milano.