In today’s world, where identity, culture, and fashion intersect, few brands capture this fusion as effortlessly as bago. Rooted in the rich tradition of Filipino textiles and empowered by the spirit of modern streetwear, bago has emerged as a fashion brand that does more than just create garments—it tells stories. Every piece they produce is a love letter to Filipino heritage, a homage to the weavers who handcraft their textiles, and a testament to the importance of slow fashion in an era of overconsumption.

Introduction: bago as a Cultural Reclamation

bago, founded by Brandon Comer, was born out of the desire to bridge his Filipino heritage with his American upbringing. Like many Filipino Americans, Comer grew up disconnected from the rich cultural history of the Philippines. Raised in a family that prioritized assimilating into the American dream, his knowledge of his roots was sparse—until he started asking questions about his own cultural identity. Through research and a deep personal journey, Comer discovered the vast and intricate world of Filipino weaving, which inspired him to create bago.

The brand name, which translates roughly to "new" or "fresh," represents this spirit of discovery and reinvention. For Comer, bago is not about making clothing—it’s about reintroducing Filipino culture to a new generation, particularly those like himself who may have grown up disconnected from their heritage. It’s about using fashion as a medium to preserve traditional crafts and bring them into the modern world.

Brandon Comer: From Engineer to Fashion Innovator

Before founding bago, Brandon Comer had an entirely different career path. He served as a Navy nuclear engineer and later pursued an Executive MBA from UCLA Anderson before finally deciding to transition and pursue his creative passion through a master’s degree in industrial design at the ArtCenter. Despite his success, Comer felt unfulfilled. The rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2021 sparked a period of reflection, where Comer began exploring his own heritage in greater depth.

Brandon dove deeper into Filipino weaving traditions and thought about how he could help revive these practices while also making them relevant for a new audience. From this passion, bago was born. Today, Comer’s work with Filipino weavers and his dedication to ethically sourced materials has made bago a brand rooted in both cultural preservation and modern innovation.

Filipino Weavers and the Craft of Heritage Textiles

At the heart of bago’s collections are the Filipino weavers who create the stunning handwoven textiles used in every piece. Each weave tells a story, with patterns that date back hundreds of years, representing protection, community, and spiritual symbolism. One of the textiles used by bago is the Binakol fabric from the Ilocos region, a textile that is recognizable for its dizzying, optical illusion-like patterns. This fabric, woven on a backstrap loom, features intricate designs that create a swirling effect, believed to ward off evil spirits .

bago’s first release, the HERITAGE line (shop here), featured this unique textile, blending tradition with the modern silhouette of oversized streetwear. This tee was not only a fashion statement but also a way of introducing the beauty of Filipino weaving to a new, younger audience.

bago’s collaboration with ANTHILL Fabrics, a Filipina-led social enterprise, ensures that every piece is produced with the utmost respect for the artisans who create them. ANTHILL works directly with Indigenous weaving communities across the Philippines, ensuring they are paid fair wages—over 10 times the national average. bago’s commitment to ethical sourcing doesn’t stop at fair compensation; the brand has also been deeply involved in supporting relief efforts, such as donating 100% of sales to weavers affected by the earthquake in Northern Philippines in 2022.

By partnering with these communities, bago is not only helping to preserve a dying art but also providing these weavers with the economic support needed to continue their craft.

Slow Fashion and Streetwear: Merging Sustainability and Style

In a world of fast fashion, bago stands apart by embracing the principles of slow fashion. Instead of mass-producing garments, bago focuses on small-batch collections (shop here), ensuring each piece is made with care and intention. 

Every bago garment is hand-cut and sewn, with no design templates or blanks. Every part of the design process for the HERITAGE line was intentional. The heavy fabric was chosen to match the value of the textile. It was milled in LA and custom-dyed to an off white-shade known as “buko” coconut in bago’s color palette.

This method of production ensures that every item is unique, embodying the rich history of Filipino textiles while also reflecting modern design sensibilities.

Incorporating these textiles into streetwear offers a fresh perspective on how cultural artifacts can be worn in everyday life. This merging of Filipino textiles with modern streetwear is bago’s way of ensuring that these ancient traditions are not lost to time. Instead, they are reimagined for a new generation that values both cultural preservation and personal expression.

Honoring the Past While Creating the Future

bago’s vision, driven by Brandon Comer and his team, goes beyond fashion. It is a mission to preserve and uplift Filipino culture while introducing it to new audiences in innovative ways.

At a time when fast fashion dominates the industry, bago’s commitment to slow fashion and ethically sourced materials offers an important alternative. Each piece is more than just clothing—it’s a symbol of resilience, creativity, and pride in Filipino heritage. By supporting bago, consumers are not only investing in high-quality, meaningful fashion but also helping to sustain traditional Filipino weaving practices for future generations.

As bago continues to grow, with plans for new collections and pop-up events across the U.S., the brand’s mission remains the same: to tell the story of Filipino heritage through fashion, one piece at a time.

Whether you’re looking for a unique piece of streetwear or a way to connect with your Filipino roots, bago offers a path forward. Shop bago today at bit.ly/checkbagola