Glenfiddich is a brand known for its award-winning single malt Scotch whiskies and a brand that pushes boundaries and challenges traditions.
The distillery has been creating breakthroughs in whiskies and continuously embraces collaboration from various industries and trailblazers in the modern world. In recent years, we’ve seen these efforts starting with their experimental whisky releases—IPA Experiment (Malt Master Brian Kinsman collaborated with a Speyside brewer, Seb Jones, to create a first of its kind craft IPA whisky) and Winter Storm (the third form the experimental series, featuring a mouth-watering and unique whisky in an Icewine cask finish) among others. And the Glenfiddich World’s Most Experimental Bartender, an annual innovative cocktail competition aiming to inspire bartenders to unlock their experimental spirit and collaborate with specialists from different fields like scientists, culinary experts, jewelers, carpenters, musicians, architects, or even engineers to develop a new way of serving Glenfiddich whisky.
This coming November, Philippine Glenfiddich World’s Most Experimental Bartender 2019 champions, Kathrin Osmillo (Head Bartender, Oto), and Fonso Sotero (Owner & Pastry Chef, Lampara) will be representing the country in the global stage in Glasgow, Scotland. While we are waiting for the outcome of their competition, Glenfiddich has just announced a new collaboration with various ‘mavericks’ in South East Asia with their latest campaign, the Glenfiddich New Dawn. What we can get excited about is that the Philippines is part of it, and it showcases Filipina fashion stylist Bea Constantino, founder of Herman & Co.
Glenfiddich’s latest campaign aims to celebrate trailblazers who dare to challenge conventions and push the boundaries of culture, and Bea’s work in Herman & Co. fits the bill. Bea established the heritage concept brand to showcase indigenous weaves, textiles, and artisanal products, highlight the vibrant culture of her hometowns, Zamboanga City and Sulu (Mindanao), and integrate these products into everyday wear with a nod to tradition. Herman & Co. aims to provide a platform between the communities’ products and the marketplace to help the weavers to a sustainable livelihood. “We believe that as long as we keep wearing, they keep weaving,” says the brand’s mantra.
Bea’s efforts in elevating local culture and modernizing traditional craft from an often overlooked and conflict-ridden region are recognized and celebrated in Glenfiddich’s latest campaign. Both Glenfiddich and Herman & Co have a deep grounding in heritage yet are driven by a purpose to innovate traditional things in new ways.
The project showcases a four-piece Glenfiddich New Dawn Philippines Collection created by Bea after a three-month collaboration with the whisky brand and a trip to Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Scotland.
“This partnership collaboration has been a wondrous experience for me,” shares Bea in her Instagram account, “from immersing myself in the Scottish culture in Scotland, to working with textiles from my home region of Mindanao—all to tell the story of our beautiful culture by way of world-class, woven textiles on a global scale, with respect to customs and tradition,” she enthuses.
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The exclusive campaign features a limited edition bomber jacket, leather belt bag, kilt skirt, and a signet ring with design inspirations marrying traditions from Glenfiddich’s homeland and Bea’s cultural roots.
Bomber Jacket – the signature item of Herman & Co. and a must-have in the collection, the bomber jacket blends the traditional weaves and textiles from the Yakan community, as well as the Scottish tartan.
Leather Belt Bag – the shape of the bag is inspired by the Scottish sporran and borrows the traditional Pis siyabit weave from the Tausug community
Kilt Skirt – the kilt skirt fuses the weaves from the Yakan community and the plaid patterns of the Scottish kilt.
Signet Ring – The weave design on the signet ring is inspired by the traditional Tausug textile called a Pis Siyabit, which used to be worn as a headscarf or as a waist adornment – a sign of the Tausug’s courage and nobility.
These items will be available through Herman & Co. via https://wearherman.com/. If you want to get a piece from the limited collection ahead of everyone else, get a chance to win one of five limited edition Bomber Jackets from Bea’s collection. To enter, log on to the Glenfiddich Facebook page and follow the contest rules. The competition will run from October 31 to November 10, 2019. The lucky winners will be announced on the Glenfiddich Facebook page on November 13.