Photographed by Tinkerbell Poblete
Over the last month, Vogue Philippines was invited to watch the collections from students at University of the Philippines Diliman, SoFA Design Institute, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
Welcome to the Class of 2025. Vogue Philippines takes a look at the final shows by the fashion graduates at University of Philippines Diliman, SoFA Design Institute, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
VANITAS: The UP Diliman BS Clothing Technology Graduation Fashion Show
Held at the IBG-KAL Theater on campus in Quezon City, the showcase featured 14 collections exploring each student’s individual identities and interests in construction and style. To differentiate the collections was a soundtrack and digital backdrop, establishing a sensory experience to enrich the audience, as the models walked the runway. Every student had a unique and distinctive story, touching on themes such as childhood passions, personal trauma, and flights of fancy.
Like Julia Villamil turning her broken dreams of pursuing ballet into ‘Veil of the Lake,’ or Dee Dimaano’s ‘Tahanan sa Aking Balintataw’ tribute to her late mother, repurposing cherished left-over fabrics. Throughout the show, cinematic class portraits of decadent drapery painted the students in a collective light. Unlike many graduate shows, competitiveness often taints the camaraderie between artists, but this wasn’t the case. Particularly in the final bow, there was harmony and mutual respect, to create a lasting impression to end a chapter in unison.
Designers: Julia Villamil, Mika Sibug, Marius Legurpa, Dee Dimaano, Andrei Mendiola, Yoriko Sundiam, Andrew Llave, Anna Cecilia, Yasha Rosales, Carmela Cachola, Bianca Duran, Kath Allen Baillo, Allianz Maturino, and Kriz Boston.
FOREGATHER: SoFA Graduation Show
In The Fifth at Rockwell, 20 students taught under ‘The SoFA Method’ of self-discovery and technical skill, created an immersive catwalk show to exhibit the final collections. Each designer made six-looks to a high-standard of craftsmanship, revealing individual ideologies and interests in design. Naturally, most of the collections focused on couture-like eveningwear, signifying countless hours of needlework, but the most innovation came from the conceptual.
Audience favorite Joshua Miguel Baysa mirrored his tribe of “artists from all walks of life,” through the deconstructivism of streetwear in his label Bordelo. Jilliane Theresa Louis Santos’ collection “From Fragments to Form,” rebirthed discarded hotel napkins, Marikina leather, and Basahan doormats from Baguio into wearable art. Neil Mindanao celebrated his childhood cars, and the suppressed desire to play with his “sister’s barbie dolls” with a life-size pit-crew, and Veda Galagnara fashioned “raw emotions” into a balanced utilitarian menswear collection in tones of orange, navy, and taupe.
4-Year BA Fashion Design and Marketing: Anne Christine Tiu, Diana Lei Abanto, Nikka Bañaga, Gianne Belle Pabrua, Rogeline Uchi, Clyemae Suarez, Catherine Nicole Sta. Ana, Hanz Nabong, Sophia Isabella Reganit, Jilliane Therea Louise Santos, and Veda Galangnara.
2-Year in Fashion Design and Marketing: Dexter Leil Monette Deala, Gio Leandro Nogales, Krystel Ayao, Kimberly Rios, Joshua Miguel Baysa, Neil Angielo Mindanao, Selina Tiu, Kyla Gregorio, and Maria Sofia Imperial.
SINULID: Threaded Experience by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
In the exact building the clothes were made in, over 100 kaleidoscopic looks by 34 designers were presented in pairs, split into four different segments: Awakening, Discovery, Reminiscent, and Becoming. Like a Broadway musical, the fashion show captivated audience from start to finish, with dancers and drag queens parading between the animated cohort of one-off designs.
After the final models walked, the atmosphere transitioned into the X Factor with a community spirit. Cebuano-born Alessandra Caamic won the Brand Concept Award for her genderfluid ‘balud’ collection, stimulated by her Visayan culture of tattoos and beaches. The Fashion Innovation Award went to Serena San Jose, who was surprised to “be recognized as trans person from the province,” through the intersection of body horror, and transgender identity with Kombucha leather and latex.
Finally, the most prestigious title was given to Gemma B. Santos, with the Emerging Creative Talent Award for her “Tabi-tabi po” collection. Inspired by her “superstitious family” and traditional mythological creatures such as “Talagbusao, Ani-ani, Tahamaling, alongside the infamous Engkanto and Alburlaryo.”
In conclusion, Gemma’s statement about her accolade below, is something that can be universally applied to all of the graduate shows. A good fashion education not only gives people vocational skills to make a living, but a platform to make a difference in society and the industry.
“Ang parangal sa akin ay isang pagkilala sa mga artist at creatives na nananaya sa industriya na ang tanging puhunan lamang ay ang sariling imahinasyon at karanasan sa sistemang pabor lamang sa mga nasa itaas na antas ng lipunan. [The award for me is a recognition of artists and creatives who venture into the industry, whose only investment is their own imagination and experience in a system that only favors the upper levels of society.]
Ang pagkilala na aking natanggap ay isang katiyakan lamang na mayroon lugar para sa atin.” [The recognition I received is just an assurance that there is a place for us.”]
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 from Vogue Philippines.
Designers: Pearle Abella, Abby Acantilado, Dom Aquio, Brianna Balaoro, Alessandra Caamic, Samantha Cabrera, Janelle Chan, Yazmine Calata, Tisha Chavez, Kim Chua, Ira Co, Ivee de los Santos, Ingrid Del Rosario, Patricia Dela Cruz, John Estavillo, Andrea Feliciano, Kyle Gomelet, Genevieve Gutierrez, Ann Hernandez, Micah Lao, Elijah Mananghaya, Paulette Navera, Erin Nicholas, Rain Olais, Lance Rubio. Serena San Jose, Clarisse Sanchez, Gemma Santos, Ysavel Soriano, Roselle Sy, Krissie Teruel, Deil Valle, and Alexandra Zarate.
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