Dare to wear — Part 2

What’s new now, next in 2024?

Fresh ideas are coming forth and ready to start the year with a bang.

The local scene is exploding with interesting things, perspectives and alternative points of view.

We’ve asked industry insiders, from designers to brands, about exciting things that are coming and unfolding.

Whether a creation of function or recreation, fashion presents a collective of style narratives of things ready to wear.

Here goes!

ROMERO and her ‘Tagpi-Tagpi Button-Down.’(photograph courtesy of ig/vina romero)

VIÑA ROMERO

Juan Tagpi-Tagpi Button-Down. “This top is crafted from small cutout fabrics of our staple hand-pin-tucked fabrics. Three yards of our hand-pin-tucked fabric involves about 20 hours of meticulous work — a genuine labor of love and patience. This piece is designed to repurpose fabric remnants from both our custom and ready-to-wear pieces into something uniquely beautiful,” says Romero. Check it out on IG: @vina.romero. Also available in Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Plaza.

MAAT and his ‘Paper Bag Barong.’(photograph courtesy of ig/DARYL MAAT)

DARYL MAAT

Pad Paper Barong. This top is crafted from cocoon fabric, featuring red and blue running stitches that mimic a pad paper effect. Hand embroidery is used to capture the charm of children’s drawings. “I’ve always been curious about creating a playful Barong. The idea struck me: what if I design a print resembling grade 1 pad paper? That’s how this Barong came to life,” says Maat. Find him on IG: @darylmaat.

GUECO and the beaded dresses.(photograph courtesy of ig/shopyoya)

YOYA GUECO

The Pearson Beaded Dress. Made of breathable and natural Tencel, the beauty in this dress is in its simplicity. The double-layered, sheer, bias-cut dress comes with a special limited edition beaded star to add some sparkle to your 2024.

“I thought of an easy-to-wear dress, something you can wear to dance and eat, and enjoy and feel comfortable and chic at the same time. It’s such a versatile piece, something you can wear even in the daytime. A little sparkle never hurt anyone,” says Gueco.

Find it in Yoya G’s Greenbelt 5 boutique and on the website https://shopyoya.com/product/beaded-pearson-dress/ or IG: @shopyoya.

ESPINA and his sleeveless top with shell design(photograph courtesy of jorel espina)

JOREL ESPINA

Sleeveless Top Made of Shell Patterned Organza with Pearls and Shell Embellishment. I made it because it’s the perfect summer essential,” says Espina. Available in Outside the Box pop-up store at SM Aura Premiere.

HAGEDORN and the Alegre Luisa top.(photograph courtesy of ig/techiehagedrn)

TECHIE HAGEDORN

Luisa Top. Sleeveless top with lace strap, fabric handwoven from Abra. “I try to incorporate local fabrics and weaves into every collection that I launch. This has been my small way of supporting local weavers all around the Philippines,” says Hagedorn of the brand Alegre. Find her brand at Katutubo pop-ups starting March 2024, and on Instagram
@techiehagedorn.

PACSON and his pupper vest.

RENAN PACSON

Puffer Vest. ‘It’s a super soft and cozy, Noragi-style vest made from Inabel and PU leather. I wanted to create a piece using our local textile with a mix of Japanese street style. I also wanted an outerwear that feels like a very cozy kumot (blanket) when worn,” says Pacson. Find it in IG:
@paxon.

CLAPAROLS and his Mariah Clara Tops.

LOUIS CLAPAROLS

Mariah Clara Tops. “Our new Mariah Claras for 2024 is a playful mix of striped denims, local patadyong weaves, batik prints and Indian sari. One of the reasons we jumped into the Filipiniana bandwagon is that I noticed everything in the market looks the same. I wanted my pieces to be more fun or something you don’t see anywhere else. I want women to have more options, and we made our tops reversible you can wear it as a blouse or as a jacket,” says Claparols of The Muse Project.