Electric youth: 28 designers to watch out for
Reese Lansangan 23, Sofa Design Institute
MANILA, Philippines - Define your aesthetic at the moment: Offbeat, humorous, tongue-in-cheek.
Non-fashion inspirations: Space and the universe, pop culture, world culture (specifically Asian), science, obsessiveness and consumption.
How do you see yourself five years from now? A happy, content, well-rounded creative, still pursuing art, music, design, and fashion, be it in the Philippines or elsewhere in the world.
Who do you design for? Dreamers, smart-as-a-whip girls obsessed with consuming culture.
Dream client: Tavi Gevinson, Susie Lau, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.
Contact: reeselansangan@gmail.com
Maria Eloisa Garay 20,De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde?
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Edgy and sophisticated combined?.
Non-fashion inspirations: Architecture.?
How do you see yourself five years from now? Designing for different clients.?
Who do you design for? Strong, independent and sophisticated women.?
Contact: 0926-1365436 or eloisagaray@ymail.com
Charles Anito 23, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Business casual that is richly patterned, wildly theatrical, and boldly masculine with a high fashion element.
Non-fashion inspirations: K-Pop and cars.
How do you see yourself five years from now? I’ll be showcasing my collection in big and famous fashion shows and to cater the clothing needs of A-list people.
Who do you design for? I am building my own brand name.
Contact: chuckanito@yahoo.com, @charlesanito on Instagram
Gavin Ruffy 22, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Sensual and mysterious.
Non-fashion inspirations: Emotions, life experiences.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Doing something I love and enjoy.
Who do you design for? Everyone! But I like people who are effortlessly sexy and confident in themselves.
Contact: 0917-8233050, gavin_ruffy@yahoo.com.ph
Patrick Lazol 24, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: It should always show and have clean lines, a bit of minimalism and should always have an avant-garde twist. Basically, these elements are present and I play around with which I would like to highlight.
Non-Fashion inspirations: Anything that piques interest. Like what Grace Coddington does, I try to keep my eyes open.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Probably working under a designer and knowing the ropes of the business first before establishing my own fashion line.
Who do you design for? People who want to further define and express themselves through fashion.
Dream client: Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine
Contact: 0915-3403892, Patrickarthurlazol@yahoo.com
Jen Anne Contreras 20, De La Salle – College Of Saint Benilde?
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Crazy minus the vulgarity, sophisticated without the stiffness, and unique without being strange.?
Non-fashion inspirations: The films Melancholia by Lars von Trier and Sleeping Beauty by Julia Leigh.?
How do you see yourself five years from now? I see myself still doing what I love and being good at it. ?
Who do you design for? I design clothes for women who are not afraid to defy the norms but can tell the difference between “ugly pretty” and just ugly. ?
Contact: jenannecontrerasdesigns@yahoo.com
Rosenthal Tee 26, Instituto Marangoni (UK)
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Romantic and minimalist
Non-Fashion inspirations: A lot of electronic/ambient/house music
How do you see yourself five years from now? Established, but still in the pursuit of happiness
Who do you design for? A woman who wants it all
Contact: 0917-8526923 or contact@rosenthaltee.com
Photos by PATRICK DIOKNO, Produced by DAVID MILAN, Styled by CARLA VILLANUEVA, Assisted by FRANCINE GACRAMA, Makeup by GERY PENASO of MAC Cosmetics, Hair by MYCKE ARCANO, Modeled by KELSEY MERRITT
Agnes Samantha A. Co 28, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: I’m a bridal designer coming from a very soft, feminine side, but I still want to break the rules on what is considered feminine. I want to explore new shapes and silhouettes with old-world charm.
Non-fashion inspirations: My husband and my nieces because they make me happy and inspire me to be the best.
How do you see yourself five years from now? In the next five years, I want to be a known bridal designer leading my own brand and working towards challenging clients. And contributing to a fashion industry where I can grow and take new challenges overtime.
Who do you design for? Brides to be and women who appreciate my aesthetic.
Contact: 0917-8042786
JP Martin 21, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde?
Define your aesthetic at the moment: From feminine silhouettes, I am transitioning to loose and boxy shapes. I have always been a fan of androgynous clothing for women that still have a touch of femininity to them.
Non-fashion inspirations: Nature, paintings, history?
How do you see yourself five years from now? I see myself putting up my own RTW line for women and hopefully being able to showcase my collection every season at Philippine Fashion Week.
Contact: 0926-4030032, jaypsmartin@gmail.com, @jaypsmartin on Instagram
Guia Alvendia 21, SoFA Design Institute
Define your aesthetic at the moment: My designs tell stories through various crafts such as macramé, weaving, embroidery, beadwork and patchwork.
Non-fashion inspirations: Travel, different cultures, books and music.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Married with a baby on the way, while owning a small business producing things I love.
Who do you design for? I design for the woman who’s different from everybody and not afraid to stand out or try new things.
Dream client: I’d love to work with people that have diverse cultural backgrounds because there’s so much I could learn from them. At the same time, I’d love to share our own culture and heritage with them.
Contact: guialuisaa@gmail.com
Charmaine Santos 21, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Figure-hugging silhouettes, simple but classy lace fabrics.?
Non-fashion inspirations:?Burlesque dancers, Maleficent, Angelina Jolie, J-Lo and hip-hop music (Kanye West)?.
How do you see yourself five years from now? My goal is to expand our family business by putting up stores abroad.
Who do you design for? Sophisticated ladies, celebrities/artists and brides.?
Contact: 0917-8527033, ?itschamsantos@yahoo.com
Anne Siochi 22,De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde?
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Laid-back.?
Non-fashion inspirations: Nature, structures, and spaces.?
How do you see yourself five years from now? Running a small brand that is loyal to my aesthetic?.
Who do you design for? Those who want to keep it comfortable with basics but with an edge.
Contact:?0917-5982663, annefrancesd@gmail.com
Denise Marie J. Quintos 21, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde ?
Define your aesthetic at the moment: A balance between playful and classics.?
Non-fashion inspirations: Every city or country that I’ve been to! ?
How do you see yourself five years from now? Traveling and still making my dreams come true.
Who do you design for? Confident and independent ladies.?
Contact: denise.quintos@yahoo.com, 0917-8973657
Patrick Villamor 22, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Define your aesthetic at the moment: My aesthetic at the moment is fresh, soft, innovative and powerful dresses.
Non-fashion inspirations: Anything under the sun. When something catches my eye, I usually tend to imagine and from there I’m able to get inspiration.
How do you see yourself five years from now? I see myself becoming known and successful in this industry. I also see myself traveling to different countries, where I can also study and enhance my knowledge and skills.
Who do you design for? I design for people who dare to be different and fashion forward. I design for the people who have a vision and know what they want.
Contact: 0905-5401819/ 0939-3512005,? pat.villamor@yahoo.com/ pat.villamor@gmail.com, www.patrickvillamor.wix.com/fashionhaus
Photos by RJ SANTOS, Produced by DAVID MILAN, Styled by CARLA VILLANUEVA, Assisted by FRANCINE GACRAMA, Makeup by RIA AQUINO of MAC Cosmetics, Hair by KIKO PEDAZA of Jing Monis Salon, Modeled by KELSEY MERRITT
Enzo Habulan 24, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Artsy and contemporary
Non-fashion inspirations: Paintings, streets and nature
How do you see yourself five years from now? Running my own atelier
Who do you design for? Avant garde enthusiasts
Contact: 09201780573
John Rufo 24
Define your aesthetic at the moment: I see a lot of prints and patterns in my current designs, whether it is floral, paint or geometric print. Women of today are more adventurous in mixing prints with their basics. May it be a dress or a crop-top, I feel joy when women are excited to look beautiful whenever they wear Rufo prints.
Non-fashion inspirations: Chocolate is the best non-fashion inspiration that motivates me. My mood with chocolate is reflected in the way I see clothes; it can be elegantly dark or playfully sweet or even heavenly!
How do you see yourself five years from now? Five years from now, I will be a successful global prêt-à-porter designer with my RUFO clothing. My goal is to make the everyday woman be comfortable, confident and sexy. Something I hope people will feel in my clothes.
Who do you design for? Lani Misalucha, Carla Abellana, Sam Pinto, Wyn Marquez, Kyla, Kz Tandingan, Vina Morales, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Maja Salvador.
Dream client: Jennifer Lawrence, Chiara Ferragni and Emma Watson.
Contact: 0917-7908155
Esme Palaganas 20, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Romantic RTW womenswear infused with the toughness of menswear.
Non-fashion inspirations:?Jane Austen’s feisty characters, Woody Allen films, musical theater, old and period films, grand stately homes and their interiors.
How do you see yourself five years from now? In five years, I see myself still exploring the inner workings of the local garment manufacturing and distribution industry, heading a local retail brand, creating experimental RTW and curating young designers with my pop-up brand, Basic Movement. And on top of it all, hopefully, working on my master’s in textile or business!
Who do you design for? An individual who enjoys dressing up every day and who appreciates quality workmanship.
Contact: 0906-5686518 for home service made-to-order pieces,?esmepalaganas@gmail.com, www.basic-movement.tk for RTW pieces, @basicmovement?on Instagram, and Basic Movement on Facebook
Wanda Trixi Bandojo 23, SoFA Design Institute
Define your aesthetic at the moment: I think I have a lot of appreciation for different aesthetics; it boils down to how they are used/worn. Some people can get away with anything, but me, since I started working, I learned to enjoy and appreciate being a minimalist; more sleek and tailored dressing.
Non-fashion inspirations: Fictional stories and characters, architecture, sculpture, food, animals and nature. Basically, if anything gets my attention for more than two minutes, I’m sold and inspired.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Right now, I work in a very different field from fashion, and the reason for that is that I want to study brand management in Italy. Every step I’m taking is towards one goal, which is to build a fashion empire, so in five years, I want to have finished that course, invested in research and development, and of course, found potential investors besides myself!
Who do you design for? Women who would like to feel beautiful, rich and powerful. They who work so much and want to enjoy the fruits of their labor by dressing well.
Dream client: Kate Middleton, Meryl Streep, Adriana Lima, Lady Gaga and Gina Torres from the Suits series.
Banggo Niu 22, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Classic and edgy. Current, sexy and timeless.
Non-fashion inspirations: Upbeat songs, lifestyle and emotions.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Having a high-end RTW line, a continuous flow of clients for my made-to-order label, expanding to menswear, accessories and scents. Studying in Paris/Italy to improve my craft. Hopefully, to be known internationally.
Who do you design for? Always opting for beauty with edge, a B.NIU woman is effortlessly sexy and edgy.
Bernard Espinosa-Escalona 28, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: I always start from dark stories and I give them a whimsical twist. I use simple silhouettes and mix them with textures and embellishments.
Non-fashion inspirations: Religious figures and symbols, to the point of idolatry, are the ones that interest me a lot. I want to capture that unusual, much more eerie, feeling when I’m making my creations.
How do you see yourself five years from now? By then, Bernard Escalona will be a brand often associated with bridal wear. On a long-term note, I plan to expand to menswear, too!
Who do you design for? A woman who always has drama in her life. Someone that gives me an opportunity to share her story in my work of art.
Contact: 0905-4403941, bernard.escalona.be@gmail.com
Tipay Caintic 25,?SoFA Design Institute
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Offbeat, covertly insubordinate, unserious: words to define the By Tipay brand. At our core are tactile knits, art prints and unconventional material.
Non-design inspirations: Low-brow art, TED talks, film scoring.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Finishing my master’s in material futures at CSM, London. While I churn out my collections every season by keeping production local. With my own self-sustaining house and factory in Tacloban City, Philippines.
Who do you design for? I design for my prêt-à-porter brand, By Tipay, and private clients for my bespoke line, Tipay Caintic.
Photos by KOJI ARBOLEDA, Produced by DAVID MILAN, Styled by CARLA VILLANUEVA, Assisted by FRANCINE GACRAMA, Makeup by PONG NIU of MAC Cosmetics, Hair by MYCKE ARCANO, Modeled by KELSEY MERRITT
Pia Gajasan 28, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: I’m really partial to streamlined silhouettes with tailored finishings. I try to balance that by injecting a sense of ease in the designs though, mixing in some sporty and grungy elements to create a casually undone vibe. That even extends to my fabric choices. I tend to mix luxe fabrics like leather, suede and silk with more unconventional ones like rubberized knits and dry-fit fabrics.
Non-fashion inspirations: Traveling really helps me when looking for inspiration. It helps set the right frame of mind since I’m exploring new things and are more open to external triggers. It doesn’t even have to be to some expensive getaway. I would sometimes take a new route going home, see interesting graffiti or a weird building, and get ideas for silhouettes or techniques from that.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Right now, I’m still trying to find a solid, consistent perspective to build a brand on. But it would be the height of awesome if I could continue making one-of-a-kind couture pieces and have a ready-to-wear sportswear line as well in five years’ time.
Who do you design for? Since I like making street and sportswear, I have this young, urban and effortlessly elegant woman in mind when designing.
Contact: pia.gajasan@gmail.com, 0919-4852741
Ronnie Comia 26, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: My aesthetic focuses on sportswear and urban vibe. I also tend to play with fabrics like upholstery, foam and plastic.
Non-fashion inspirations: I’m a self-confessed audiophile so sometimes music inspires me. I also get inspiration from normal people and places with an industrial look.
How do you see yourself five years from now? I see myself working for a local designer with the same aesthetic or pursuing a design career in Sweden. I’ve been dreaming of living and working in that country.
Who do you design for? I design for people who want to own unique yet functional garment and someone who appreciates my style and aesthetic.
Contact: 0917-2579006, ronniecomia@gmail.com
Tatenda Sipula 23, Crawford College, Sandton
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Lavish minimalism.
Non-fashion inspirations: The Porsche 911 Turbo. It’s a complex machine with hidden joys and wonders one can’t help but get inspired by.
How do you see yourself five years from now? I see myself moving to Shanghai or Korea to do what I’m doing here, which is dominating and educating the market on my views and style on fashion.
Who do you design for? I’ve dressed diplomats, ambassadors, as well as local stars like Ping Medina, Carlo Gonzales, Andre Felix and Daniel Matsunaga, just to name a few.
Dream client: Barack Obama.
Contact: 0906-2487893/black_widdoww1@yahoo.com
Erika Gana 26, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Simple but chic silhouettes mixed in custom-made prints.
Non-fashion inspirations: I take inspiration from my surroundings, anything from nature to the city buildings.
How do you see yourself five years from now? Working alongside known fashion brands, while building my own company.
Who do you design for? I’d like to design for people who enjoy a bit of quirk and fun in their wardrobe.
Dream client: Anna dello Russo
Contact: 0917-5308440
Twinkle Norte 20, De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Balance and harmony in combination with a deep belief in the intrinsic beauty of the human form help define my aesthetic. I try to make each of my designs a wearable work of art.
Non-fashion inspirations: Structured buildings and the beauty of nature.
How do you see yourself five years from now??Five years from now, I hope to have my own line of clothing and a well-established client group who I see as friends more than just customers.?
Who do you design for? Men and women with a strong sense of fashion and a flair for the future grounded in traditional values.?
Contact: 0916-4491688, twinklenorte@yahoo.com
Vi Valencia 23, Fashion Institute of the Philippines
Define your aesthetic at the moment: Dark, Wabi-sabi, Androgynous
Non-fashion inspirations: Visual Art, Eastern and Western culture
How do you see yourself five years from now? The goal is to fully understand and master the craft of making clothes through experience. Along with it is to learn more about the business side of fashion. In five years time or less, I hope to establish myself as a competent freelance fashion designer.
Who do you design for: I design for those who are quixotic and contemporary.
Contact: v.valen@gmail.com, 0927-6735847
Mick Perez 28, SoFA Design Institute
Define your aesthetic at the moment: I am a minimalist designer. My designs are distinguished by their clean lines and straight cuts. I stay away from extravagance. I believe that subtle elegance is more chic and stylish.
Non-fashion inspirations: I always get inspired by Quentin Tarantino movies. I like how they are told. He never follows a sequence, but he never misses the mark.
How do you see yourself five years from now? I am actually taking it slow. As of the moment, I am trying to juggle keeping my brand relevant and working as a creative designer for another local brand. I hope things will become more established in the future and I can focus on my own brand.
Who do you design for? Dream clients? I design for anybody who knows her style; anybody who understands the impact of simplicity in fashion. I would like to dress Lady Gaga if she decides to tone down a bit. But seriously, I would like to dress Kate Middleton and Sasha Pivovarova in the future.
Photos by NIKKI RUIZ, Produced by DAVID MILAN, Styled by CARLA VILLANUEVA, Assisted by FRANCINE GACRAMA, Makeup by ARCHIE TOLENTINO of Maybelline New York, Hair by KIKO PEDAZA of Jing Monis Salon, Modeled by KELSEY MERRITT
