Through Movement, Fashion Comes Alive

It’s in the discipline of movement where the clothes find their form, shaped by rhythm over rigidity.

She hovers for a moment, not quite landing, not quite lifting off; but in that liminality, Daniela Szpejna moves. A red gown stretches outward, caught mid-swing. A blue dress folds into itself as she bends, and in another frame, a sheer yellow layer wraps around her, following the line of her shoulders and arms. Even the more structured pieces, in a white sculptural look, or a tailored set with a striped skirt, shift with her, shaped as much by movement as by design. 

That same balance comes through even in the local context, where fashion responds to motion. Across the Philippines, dance has long been part of how stories are told and remembered. In schools, Buwan ng Wika performances bring tinikling’s quick, measured steps and cariñosa’s restrained gestures to the stage; movements that require both control and sensitivity to timing. In the south, pangalay emphasizes the articulation of hands and arms, each curve deliberate, almost weightless. Across communities, dances are practiced in the spirit of both performance and continuity, with traditions that are passed down and repeated for generations. 

What holds everything together is that same sense of awareness. It’s the body in relation to space, to fabric, and to timing. Whether in the Philippines or beyond, garbs from various cultures follow that lead, opening up when needed, and holding their shape when still. 

By GABRIEL YAP. Photographs by MATTIA HOLM. Styling by ARUT ARUSTAMYAN. Makeup: David Razzano at Art Department. Hair: Chika Nishiyama at Forward Artists. Movement Director: Elena Vazintaris. Production: Jean Jarvis at Area1202. Production Coordinators: Nika Bregvadze and Devon Jarvis. Fashion Assistant: Adlet Bermukhamedov