Page 179 - Philippine Tatler (April 2019)

Marga

Nograles

Elegant, stylish, and certainly
one of a kind: that is the way
many people have described
the unusual and stunning
aesthetic of Marga Nograles.
The Davao native (and wife
to Davao City congressman
Karlo Nograles) is the designing
mind of Kaayo, a brand that
raises awareness regarding the
traditional crafts of the T’boli,
Mandayan, and Tangkalo tribes
of Mindanao, as well as the
use of native fabrics such as
traditionally woven Mindanaoan
silk and inaul.
While her brand does
produce clothing and
accessories, Kaayo is more
than just a fashion statement
for Nograles. For her, the name
represents the very ethos of the
brand: the kaayo—goodness
in the Bisaya tongue—of taking
pride in the work of one’s
hands and in the colourful
riches of local culture.