Youth in focus

MANILA, Philippines -Young Fashion Institute grads grapple with the notion of identity: Who are they? Who do they want to design for? What is their purpose in design?

In bridging the gap between classic technique and innovative silhouettes, these new graduates are participating in an age-old experiment in design: in finding their voice, they discover their sense of purpose. Our job is to see if it’s a voice worth hearing. Here, a gander at 10 new collections by 10 brand-spanking-new designers.

Xioto Chiu

“My collection is entitled ‘Exioticism’ (a play on the designer’s name). Exoticism is an art movement that celebrates the charm of the unfamiliar. The exotic beauty of India’s art, design and their belief system of reincarnation inspired my collection. I made use of unconventional patterns without the usual cuts and seams. I patterned one look to tailor-fit the next look to recreate a continuous pattern from one look to the other. The flow of the garment pattern reflects India’s concept of reincarnation while serving its purpose and functionality.”

Yayang Bautista

“My collection interprets emotions through garments — oversized pieces made out of robust materials juxtaposed with sleek and sophisticated separates. I want it to reveal the intimacy between masculine and feminine elements. Melancholia is reflected in the use of somber colors, the material used and stitches that show tension and pain.”

Kevin Del Poso

“My inspiration was drawn from my fear of spiders. I used details that represent web silk spun by spiders. I recreated it through photographing the spider web photos to create a print for the dress shirts or the web-like cuts on both the dress shirts and blazer, or the hand-woven blazer identical to the web-print and web cocoon blazer and web dress. My women’s blazer inspiration is also drawn from the concept of fear. I used the skull print I made in holographic 3D dedicated to my parents’ work in the cinema industry.”

Erika Gana

“My collection is inspired by my dad’s love for birds. The colors in this collection are based on a cockatiel’s plumes. I also incorporated a few avian elements into the pieces, particularly curved silhouettes and feather print/embellishments.”

Thalia Javier

“My collection is inspired by the organic colors, shapes and textures of seashells interpreted in minimal sportif resort chic ensembles. I wanted to achieve simple lines with luxe elements through fabrication while maintaining the beauty of having sporty separates. The collection is in white (and other shades of white for depth) to symbolize purity and innocence — a reflection of my designs and also myself.”

Joel Andrade

“The collection is entitled ‘Woman on Top.’ It’s a celebration ofmodern woman today. Each look is composed for different sides of a woman. There is power in leather, femininity and sensuality in lingerie, sportswear in knits and sports mesh and glamour in the fur and embellishments.”

Kannah Simbulan

“My collection is entitled ‘Vogue-Abond — a fashionable nomad.’ I envisioned a desert wanderer, someone who, despite not having a permanent home, manages to exude beauty and fashion. The color palette of mustard yellow, auburn, browns reflect warmth. The multiple garment layering in each look depicts its ability to adapt with climate changes. I also want to emphasize the idea of blurring gender preferences as manifested through the silhouette, hence producing a unisex collection.”

Frankie Galagnara

“The title of my collection is ‘Architectoniki Moda.’ This collection expresses my passion for both the sleek lines of architecture and the precision of fashion design. I interpreted details of architecture like lines and shapes into a feminine and sophisticated look.”

Ailyn Lau

“My collection is both a tribute and a reinterpretation of the classic nautical theme. I made use of uncommon techniques and materials like embroidery, knits, pleats and various detailing in ropes. My mission was to make use of the typical colors red, navy blue and details like stripes, anchor embroidery and gold accents but reinterpreted in a modern and youthful way.”

Pia Gajasan

“‘White Spaces’ envisions a polished, geometric and structural collection that attempts to make the wearer become more aware of the space surrounding her through the use of unconventional silhouettes, unusual seam and dart placements, and varying textures of fabric. The collection makes use of ordinary fabrics like cotton twill and tulle mixed with more luxe fabrics like Mikado silks and leather mixed with unconventional materials like rubberized knits and dri-fit fabrics.”   

Photos by Rxandy Capinpin

Assisted by Billy Cuevas and Diego Lee

Styling by Ryuji Shiomitsu

Assisted by Keith Angelo and Frankie Galagnara

Makeup by Hanna Pechon of Shu Uemura

Hair by Ace Dela Pena

Modeled by Whiney Johns and Dailos

Production design by Chicco Rodriguez

Special thanks to Aram Loe