SNK ATK Design Lab Launches the ROOTS Collection Featuring 1-of-1 Workwear Noragi Jackets Made With Native Weaves
Manila / Quezon City, May 1, 2026 — SNK ATK Design Lab
introduces the ROOTS Collection, a limited release of handcrafted noragi jackets that combines Japanese workwear influences with native woven fabrics sourced from Mindanao.
For SNK ATK Design Lab Creative Director Psalm Alfafara, the collection is deeply personal. Growing up in Mindanao during the 90s, he remembers wearing handmade shorts sewn by his grandmother using native prints, batik, and ethnic fabrics sourced from local traders. At the time, he saw them as old-fashioned compared to what other kids wore.
It was only years later, after his grandmother passed away, that he began to appreciate the meaning behind those fabrics and the stories they carried. According to Alfafara, the ROOTS project became a way of reconnecting with his heritage—creating pieces that feel personal, familiar, and one of a kind, much like the garments his grandmother once made for him.
Two Traditions, One Garment
The ROOTS Noragi takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese workwear jacket known for its loose and durable silhouette. SNK ATK builds each piece using a 200gsm cotton ripstop base, paired with handwoven Lumad fabrics from Mindanao that give every jacket a unique identity.
The term “Lumad,” a Bisaya word meaning “born of the earth,” refers to the non-Muslim, non-Christian indigenous communities of Mindanao known for preserving generations of weaving traditions. These textiles carry intricate patterns and techniques that are handmade and impossible to replicate by machine.
The fabrics were sourced through local traders who work closely with the weaving communities. Because each woven panel is unique, no two ROOTS Noragi jackets are exactly alike. The collection remains intentionally limited, not to create artificial scarcity, but to respect the pace and sustainability of the weaving process.
Identity Through Design
The ROOTS Collection also reflects the idea of diaspora and cultural identity. By combining a Japanese silhouette with Filipino indigenous textiles, the collection explores how culture is shaped by lived experiences, influences, and personal history.
According to Alfafara, the collection draws inspiration from Japanese garments, American workwear, and experimental fashion culture, elements that have all influenced his creative identity. He shared that the project speaks to the feeling of searching for belonging and reconnecting with where you come from.
Availability
The ROOTS Noragi officially launched on May 1, 2026, and is now available for limited preorder through the SNK ATK Design Lab webstore
Each jacket is one of one, with no repeated patterns or identical fabric combinations.
Price: ₱13,499 PHP / $221.99 USD
To learn more about the ROOTS Collection, visit SNK ATK Design Lab’s official website and follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook for updates. Stay tuned for upcoming releases and future drops from the collection.