Ep. 9 - August 31, 2016 - Stephanie Gancayco: Bringing Indigenous Filipino Craft to Original Designs

Stephanie Gancayco is a New York-based, Bay Area-raised Filipina-American womenswear designer with a deep passion for indigenous rights and women's economic empowerment. After finishing her formal fashion design education at California College of the Arts, she began her career in the fashion industry in 2007 and has worked with some of the industry’s leading designers such as Anna Sui, Jen Kao, and Vince Camuto. With her own brand, Stephanie collaborates with indigenous women artisans in the Philippines to translate traditional attire and textiles into contemporary ready-to-wear that feels distinctly Filipino + American. She aspires to promote and preserve Filipino culture, bring income to indigenous communities, and pride to Pinoys about their pre-colonial roots. Stephanie is also working on an online platform for conversations on Filipina identity called hellapinay.com, set to launch in late 2016. She is currently the product director for Citizen x Hound, a locally-produced line of dog accessories that celebrates the bond between human and hound, and also designs knitwear for one of the largest women’s retailers in the world.