RHETT EALA top and CZAR BAJA textile. Photographed by Renzo Navarro for the September 2025 Issue of Vogue Philippines
Across regions and generations, Filipino artisans weave a language of luxury, telling tales of materiality and memory. Vogue Philippines celebrates this year’s Independence Day with an edit of Filipino brands curated by jewelry designer and gallery owner Federico De Vera, spotlighting the craft that comes out of these islands.
A modern heirloom forged from mountain traditions. The Caro Wilson Cordillera bracelet and necklace reimagine a 1960s rattan belt popular in the northern Philippines, transposing the original basket-weaving technique onto sheets of gold and silver. Each strip is cut and handwoven to preserve the pliability and strength of its plant-based ancestor.
Lawrenbert’s handmade chainmail dress took two months to make. The designer says, “The material naturally rusts over time, which is part of the narrative: a meditation on impermanence, decay, and transformation.” A Karl Nadales voluminous upside-down skirt in charcoal slate gray completes the sculptural look.
An artful tangle of texture and color: Steph Verano’s bomber jacket and wrap skirt are crafted entirely from repurposed neckties. Jewelry from Whisenhunt includes a hammered gold necklace with diamonds, a vintage Lalaounis piece shaped like a ram’s horns, and vintage chunky gold clip-ons. The LuzViMinda bag by Atoa by Cheeky Chic brings together Pinilian, raffia, and T’nalak weaves in a sculptural form inspired by the Philippine flag.
A glass butterfly by Bruno Amadi glides across a garden of De Vera’s necklaces crafted from gold, pearls, coral, vintage Venetian glass, enamel, and semiprecious stones inspired by Navaratna, a kind of jewelry featuring nine different gemstones. They are presented here against a vibrant Manton de Manila or embroidered shawl.
Karl Nadales’ distressed, layered dress of charcoal wool tunic with peeking cream calico echoes a warrior’s armor. It is paired here with a Caro Wilson Cordillera necklace. A Balay Ni Atong handwoven textile from the Ilocos region is a home for finely crafted adornments. On the left are two Unang Panahon necklaces and a paynete, a silver hair ornament. On the left are Natalya Lagdameo necklaces, earrings, and pendants, all made from gold-plated silver, save for a pair of antique Creolla earrings in 14k gold, with kalabasa and alfajot beads.
Peach Garde’s deconstructed coat and tops feature wave-like curves and tailoring rooted in youth and escape. The Bola skirt by Filip+Inna is a contemporary, shapely take on traditional Yakan textile, while Whisenhunt’s Zolotas earrings bring a touch of ancient elegance. Neil Felipp’s Constellation Sphere bag in gold-plated brass, mother-of-pearl, and agate draws on a personal story of love and distance, imagined through the stars.
On intricately woven piña fabric are a collection of De Vera’s antique brooches, bar pins, earrings, and pendants that make up their Totem series. According to the designer, these long strands came from “a desire to put together disparate elements in such a way that they would resemble a totem pole or an elaborate pendant lighting. I also thought these are the counterparts of men’s neckties.”
This sculptural Rhett Eala top blooms with shadowy intent, paired with C.ZRN’s Pista sa Bohol, a woven textile designed by Czar Baja and crafted by weavers in Bohol.
Zarah Juan’s Batwing mules are each uniquely beaded, with patterns never replicated, honoring the artistry of a Bagobo woman. Valdes Designs’ Turquoise Sculpted Clutch is a dramatic piece, hand-embroidered with green and blue cabochon stones in flowing, asymmetrical forms. The Ivory Talisman Clutch is adorned with natural shell, antique metal accents, and smooth stone cabochons on an ivory woven base. Beneath it all is Balay Ni Atong’s Binakol weave textile, crafted by artisans across the Ilocos Region and embroidered with floral and capiz window motifs.
This Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo ensemble is a maximalist ode to nostalgia and ornament. Layers of lace, handwork, and vintage textiles are fused with pop cultural references and cheeky beaded catchphrases like “ALEMBONG”, showcasing the duo’s distinctive mix of camp and couture. Styled with vintage trousers, patent leather boots, and an Unang Panahon necklace.
By NEIL DE GUZMAN. Edit by FEDERICO DE VERA. Photographs by RENZO NAVARRO. Deputy Editor: Pam Quiñones. Fashion Editor: David Milan. Producer: Julian Rodriguez. Makeup: Patricia Acejo. Hair: JA Feliciano. Model: Renée Hartshorne of Mercator. Nails: Extraordinail. Photography Team: Alexis Wang and Dominic Pamatmat.
