Designer Amir Sali Aluk is known as the "Prince of Beads" for using intricate beads designs in his creations. Source: OpenAI

The Prince of Beads

Amir Sali Aluk grew up on the island-province of Sulu, with his collections frequently inspired by childhood memories. He is known for his clothes that are heavily beaded, earning him the nickname "Prince of Beads." In March 2025, his creations were presented at the Melbourne Fashion Festival, with the Philippine Times (Australia) congratulating him "Thank you, Amir Sali, for making Filipino-Australians proud," as he was the first ever Filipino to showcase his bearded gowns at this event. Aluk trained in Europe to become a fashion designer and worked for 18 years in Saudi Arabia, where is clothing was loved by royalty. He returned to the Philippines in 2009. Talking about his first gala show in Manila in 2014, he said "Compared to Europeans, it's more satisfying to work with Filipinos because we work from the heart."

"Compared to Europeans, it's more satisfying to work with Filipinos because we work from the heart."

Recurring themes in his creations are his religious heritage, showcasing formal and traditional attire of Muslim nobility, including also Members of the Sultanate of Sulu-Maguindanao in a past show. Another theme in his creations is marine life, growing up in the coastal area, they present a memory of his past, describing the Philippines influence in one of his collections: "The Philippines is a country of islands. Our diversity and cultural differences are reflected throughout the collection. Inspirations for the designs are culled from the silhouettes of the jellyfish and insects, among others." His creations are shown all over the globe, whether in Australia, the USA, Hawaii or the fashion capital of the world - Paris. He is proud to present his heritage and the Philippine people.

"The Philippines is a country of islands. Our diversity and cultural differences are reflected throughout the collection."

Sulu Weaving Traditions

Another well known fashion designer with roots in Sulu is Bea Constantino, the founder of Studio Süg (formerly Herman & Co.). In her work she combines modern fashion pieces, like bomber jackets, with tradition, using Mindanaoan weaves or Tausug headwrap textiles. Constantino founded her brand with an idea of her family's roots in Zamboanga and Sulu in mind, saying "I just woke up one day and was like, ‘Maybe I want to contribute something more to my community.’ I wanted to share a message, wanted to tell stories." When she first started her brand, she wanted to show locally-crafted pieces to the world, deciding to re-name her brand, away from her own family heritage and her grandfather's name, to something more community centered. She chose the name "Süg" from the Tausug word "current", as "people from Sulu are known as ‘people of the current'." In her vision her brand encompasses more than just a normal fashion studio, a place where cultural storytelling and community-building come together in different forms. Getting back to her roots in her work, she describes it as feeling a sense of belonging and self-awareness.

"People from Sulu are known as 'people from the current'."

Studio Süg purchases part of their textiles from sellers in Sulu, Constantino describing her efforts as only a small contribution: "Our purchases help them move dead stocks and allow them to reach their monthly sales quotas. I’m aware that this is only a tiny contribution to the bigger needs and challenges of the community, but for now we are trying our best with our own limited personal resources.”

But Constantino's goal is not just to support the community, she also wants to help the Sulu traditions to continue into the next generations. She speaks with great admiration of the people behind the craftsmanship, saying “On an intrinsic level, I consider the weavers my teachers and myself a perpetual student. They are the ones who truly know the stories behind the textiles. Perhaps I always lean more towards tradition." Constantino wants to show the world the beauty of Sulu, saying "I have heard of military operations, I have seen it. I want the brand to bridge the gap," to talk about the beautiful culture.

“On an intrinsic level, I consider the weavers my teachers and myself a perpetual student. They are the ones who truly know the stories behind the textiles. Perhaps I always lean more towards tradition."

Culture and Storytelling in Fashion

Amir Sali Aluk and Bea Constantino both do not only create beautiful fashion, but they tell a story, rooted in culture, heritage and tradition. Their work combines effort to keep local craftsmanship alive, but also dreams to showcase to the world the beauty that Sulu has to offer.

REFERENCES

Bracamonte, E. (2022, November 2). For Children’s Month, Prince of Beads Amir Sali stages benefit show for street kids. The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/

Burgos, A. (2023, April 25). International designer Amir Sali to host Philippine-inspired fashion show in Hawaii. Hawai'i News Now. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/

Inquirer. (2013, August 23) Muslim fashion show and exhibit highlight mall's celebration of Eid'l Fitr. Inquirer.net. https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/

Legaspi, J. (2022, August 5). Bea Constantino brings Southern Mindanao's vibrant culture closer to Manila. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/

Le Mod Philippines. (2020, March 7). Exclusive: Amir Sali "the Prince of Beads" holds Paris show in May 2020. Le Mod. https://conconsinel.wixsite.com/

Melbourne Fashion Festival. (2025). 2025 programme: Amir Sali. https://melbournefashionfestival.com.au/

Philippine Times (Australia) (2025, March 2). Amir Salis' new wonderful creation [Video]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/

Potenciano, S. (2024, May 6). Homecoming: The marriage of fashion and heritage at Studio Sug. Vogue Philippines. https://vogue.ph/

Sagun, D. (2024, May 28). Before Studio Süg, Bea Constantino’s First Love Was Dancing. Vogue Philippines. https://vogue.ph/

Vergara, A. (2014, February 21). Meet Amir Sali, Paris-trained Filipino designer to Saudi royalty. Inquirer Lifestyle. Retrieved from https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/

Viernes, F. (2022, April 7). This clothing brand aims to tell the story of Mindanao through carefully curated textile designs. GMA News. https://www.gmanetwork.com/