The Pinas Sadya Limited Edition UP Jackets created a buzz when the Wear Your Fight Collection was unveiled, coinciding with the University of the Philippines Men’s Basketball Team’s (UPMBT) campaign for a finals berth in Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). Fresh off their championship triumph, the UPMBT brought renewed pride to the UP community.
While Philippine basketball fans were fixated on the battle for the UAAP crown, the UP community was rallying to support not just the UPMBT but all 30 UP sports varsity teams of the state university, many of which lacked sufficient funding and resources.
This need for support paved the way for the Pinas Sadya x NTGBUP collaboration. Launched online on November 15, 2024, the Limited Edition Pinas Sadya UP Jackets became an instant sensation. The partnership between the alumni-driven Nowhere to Go But UP (NTGBUP) and Pinas Sadya, a Filipino brand celebrated for integrating local artisan weaves and embroidery, aimed to embody the UP Fighting Maroons’ indomitable spirit while spotlighting Filipino craftsmanship and cultural heritage.
Here’s the NTGBUP announcement of the collaboration:
The UP Jackets feature intricate designs made from indigenous materials sourced from various regions in the Philippines. These include the Pina Barong of Aklan, Cosicos Weave of Abra, Binakol Weave of Ilocos, Langkit Weave of Marawi, and Hablon Weave of Negros. Each piece is brought to life by skilled artisans and seamstresses, ensuring every jacket is a masterpiece of Filipino artistry.
“These jackets are not just articles of clothing; they’re pieces of art,” shared NTGBUP. “When you purchase a Limited Edition Pinas Sadya UP Jacket, you support UP varsity teams and help sustain Filipino artisans and weaving communities.”
The idea for these jackets came to Pinas Sadya founder and UP alumna Skeeter Labastilla-Turgut during the UAAP opening event in September, where she saw the Eraserheads wearing UP jackets. Inspired to create something impactful, she envisioned a jacket that integrates UP’s iconic colors with weaving patterns from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao where the UP campuses are located. This vision took three months to materialize, involving intricate designs, multiple prototypes, and painstaking production efforts.
“It took us several partners, patterns, and prototypes to achieve the designs,” shared Valerie Fischer, General Manager of Pinas Sadya. “For a small brand like ours, the jacket production is really a labor of love. Hindi biro ang pinagdaanan to get it to market.”
The collection launch also brought together notable UP alumni from various fields—including journalism, arts, medicine, business, and sports—who proudly modeled the jackets. The UP alumni included Ryan Cayabyab (National Artist for Music), Ricky Lee (National Artist for Film and Broadcast), Jessica Soho (Most Awarded Filipino Broadcast Journalist), Patricia Non ( Initiator/ Organizer of the Maginhawa Community Pantry), Susan Villanueva (Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Women in Litigation), Toym Imao (Multi-media visual artist known for his large scale public art commentary on Filipino social conditions), Bituin Escalante (Multi Awarded Singer, Film and Theater Actor), Angel Aquino (Award-winning actress), Jamie Lim (Gold Medalist in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games), CJ Cansino (Pivotal member of the UP Fighting Maroons team that ended UP’s 36-year title drought), JD Cagulangan (2024 UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals MVP), and more, symbolizing the diversity and excellence of the UP community.
Get to know the outstanding UP alumni modeling the UP Jackets:
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the jacket serves a greater purpose. A portion of sales directly supports UP’s 30 sports teams, many of which struggle with limited funding for essentials like shoes, practice venues, and coaching staff. As Skeeter emphasized, “There are almost a thousand UP athletes. Kayang kaya i-support ng UP Alumni yan!”
The initial inventory sold out quickly, but pre-orders still continue, ensuring a sustained impact on weaving communities and UP’s sports programs. As Skeeter noted the weavers’ gratitude, “Maraming salamat po sa UP ma’am, magiging masaya po ang Pasko namin.”
Discover the Story Behind Pinas Sadya: An Exclusive Interview with Skeeter Labastilla-Turgut.
Support the UP Fighting Maroons, celebrate Filipino heritage, and wear your pride. Pre-order your Limited Edition Pinas Sadya UP Jacket now via Nowhere to Go But UP or Pinas Sadya’s websites.
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Share your love for UP and the Philippines with every jacket you wear. Check out more Good Deed stories to inspire more giving.
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The post Wear Your Fight: UP Limited Edition Jackets Celebrate Heritage and Support Athletes appeared first on GoodNewsPilipinas.com.
Source: Good News Pilipinas
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