Everything You Need to Know About Manila Fashion Week 2025

In an interview, John emphasized how the team especially curated designers with distinct creative perspectives. When asked about the shortlisting process, he explained it simply:

Drawing from his experience as a seasoned celebrity stylist, John underscored the importance of highlighting talents whose work can standout on an international stage.

“That’s something that I look out for, designers that have a unique point of view and at the same time, [those] that really have the potential to go global,” he explained. “Because at the end of the day… if we're pushing [to go] global, we want to get designers that have that mindset... of creating brands that can compete globally."

In a series of exclusive interviews with Preview, the featured designers revealed details about their upcoming runway collections.

Opening the week is Andrea Tetangco. Known for her feminine and sophisticated sensibilities, she seeks to capture the spirit of “timeless elegance with a modern edge” through her designs, featuring effortlessly polished creations made for the contemporary woman’s holiday wardrobe.

“I wanted to design pieces that feel both effortless and striking—clothes that celebrate femininity but also empower the woman who wears them,” she noted.

Viktor’s upcoming show is set to transport its audience to the cinematic world of Blade Runner 2049. The collection will explore utilitarian design anew through robust materials like denim, leather, fur, and wool, to create striking silhouettes of oversized jackets and structured suits.

“Since our collection is set in an imagined dystopian world with its bleaky atmosphere, we fashioned a world where people dress up in their winter garb, clothes as a protection or as an armour,” Ino Caluza, co-founder of Viktor says.

The scenography takes cues from a post-apocalyptic world devoid of flora and fauna. To reinterpret nature, co-founder Will Mueco crafted accessories from fabric cutoffs. “Each piece reinterprets the essence of flowers and insects, not as they are in nature, but as fragments of memory and imagination,” he explained.

The collection also includes a footwear collaboration with Marikina-based shoe company Antonio Manila, featuring limited-edition shoes designed by Ino himself. “There will be a surprise soft launch of a new product for the show!” he teased.

OXGN is a streetwear label known for its youthful and accessible apparel inspired by youth culture and street fashion. Its diverse line of offerings spans graphic tees, activewear, accessories, and more. This season, however, the brand is taking things in a different direction.

“The collection of OXGN is something that you haven’t seen from us,” shared Lord Rebueno, brand communications manager. “This time, it’s going to be more of a performance than a commercial collection.”

Expect an extensive 40–50-piece collection exploring unconventional silhouettes, concepts that were inspired by dialogues among people involved in communities and street culture. “Definitiely, at its core, OXGN is really about building communities and building really what the culture of the streets is,” he added.

Chris Nick will, quite literally, take a bolder step forward for his Spring/Summer 2026 presentation.

When asked about the concept behind his upcoming showcase, Chris puts it bluntly: “For this season— I wanted to take everyone into, for the lack of a better term, a sex club.”

Known for his sharp tailoring in an achromatic palette of blacks, whites, and greys, Chris will reinterpret his classic tuxedo in beige hues, using materials such as wool, chiffon, and reflective fabrics to evoke sensuality through structure.

Just a year after showcasing his work at BYS Fashion Week 2024, Iñigo is unveiling a new collection—only this time, he’s “switching things up.” Whereas his previous lineup leaned toward bold, provocative looks, the young designer now shifts his focus to more refined and wearable pieces.

“The pieces will be perfect for events, galas, since that’s the direction [the brand] is headed for,” he explained. “Expect a lot of movement and lots of drama with the way we’ve detailed the garments."

Founded by brothers Emil and Vince Javier in 2012, Don’t Blame the Kids (DBTK) has become a mainstay in the local streetwear landscape. Initially known for its statement tees, the brand has since expanded its range, introducing a diverse lineup of apparel and a number of notable collaborations along the way.

Now, 13 years later, DBTK marks a new milestone with its debut runway presentation at Manila Fashion Week, featuring a total of 40 looks. “This platform for us is very new, this our very first time sa fashion show. So ibibigay talaga namin yung best namin…” Emil muses.

Titled "Folding Dreams Into Flight," the showcase draws from DBTK’s evolution over the years, unfolding across three chapters: the past, present, and future.

Emil shared that the collection also offers a glimpse into the brand’s next chapter. “You will see the elevated DBTK,” he said. The lineup is set to introduce new design elements—prints, embroideries, leathers, rhinestone embellishments, and touches of local textiles. “Gagawa din kami ng sneakers just for the show,” he revealed.

2025 marks 10 years of Viña Romero. Over the past year, the designer has commemorated the milestone with a series of pop-up store openings across the metro. This time, she’s taking the celebration to the runway with a landmark 35-piece collection. “The show will really be about everything we’ve done in the last 10 years,” Viña says.

Titled "Mga Bakas: Noon, Ngayon, at Bukas," the collection serves as a tribute to the brand’s decade-long journey and the identity it has cultivated through the years. “[It’s a celebration] of our signatures—our signature details, textures, and process.”

Known for her clean silhouettes, tactile materials, and thoughtful construction, Viña continues to expand her distinctive design DNA. “For this collection, it’s really about pushing what else we can do with our signature techniques like pintucks, pleating, and more,” she explained.

BFFD 2023 honoree RJ Santos of Randolf is closing out the inaugural return of Manila Fashion Week.

Since its founding in 2013, Randolf has become known for its modern take on the barong—traditional Filipino menswear reimagined with intricate, tattoo-like embroidery reminiscent of hand-drawn art.

Famed for his tongue-in-cheek pop culture references, youthful graphics, and signature embroidered illustrations, RJ now explores a different direction. When asked about the inspiration behind his upcoming collection, titled Heaurt (stylized with a sad face emoji for the “U”), the designer put it succinctly: “expect simplicity, calmness.”

Manila Fashion Week’s return was mounted in partnership with the DOST–PTRI (Philippine Textile Research Institute). Hence, each participating designer will incorporate locally woven fabrics and indigenous materials into their collections, strengthening the event’s mission to holistically support Philippine craftsmanship.

In a first for local fashion events, Manila Fashion Week introduces a re-see and pop-up space, allowing guests to view, touch, and purchase pieces directly after the runway shows. Through this new format, the event not only celebrates Filipino artistry, but also brings the garments closer to the people who matter most—the wearers.

“It’s really supposed to help the designers—get their business out there. At the same time, the audience needs to not just see the clothes but wear them and bring them home. For me, that’s the essence of it all,” John Lozano explained.