How Local Brand Ñ Is Modernizing Filipino-Inspired Clothing for Everyday Wear

Global silhouettes meet Filipino artistry in Ñ, the up-and-coming brainchild of Ricks Fariñas and Iñaki Rosello. A marketing professional and a medical student respectively, their passion for the sartorial, fueled by both their mothers’ love for fashion, led them to band together in hopes of inspiring others to “explore style beyond what they’re used to.” What resulted are Filipino-inspired pieces with a modern twist made wearable for the every day.

Take their second collection, the Trabajo and Ulan, for example—two designs released just this May 2025 that take after the traditional Barong Tagalog. What’s commonly known as an embroidered formal shirt for men worn in weddings and court rooms is given a fresh tweak with casual colors that can be easily dressed up or down. Meanwhile their Fino shirt features the Barong’s sheer material but offers a more relaxed look with its cuban collar and boxy silhouette.

Below, Preview learned more about Ñ with founders Ricks and Iñaki as they talk about their roots and the challenges of getting a new brand off the ground.

Can you give me a brief background about yourselves? What got you into fashion?

Iñaki: "I’m Iñaki, a 2nd-year medical student. I’ve always been interested in what it means to “dress well”. As early as I can remember, my mom always made it a point to “dress” for an occasion, and I’ve sort of experimented with that idea and brought it with me. Sharing it with people in this way, while unexpected, has been such an honor."

Ricks: "I currently work in Marketing and Advertising, and before that, I was in the Fashion and Publishing Industry, though my love for fashion started much earlier. There are two people who really influenced me to get into fashion. First is my best friend, Lois, who inspired me to see it as a form of art, creativity, and self-expression. The second is my mom. Growing up, I watched her talk about her outfits, bring her own designs to life, and have them made. Seeing the way they both styled and dressed for any occasion deeply influenced how I embrace and explore fashion today."

What's the backstory behind Ñ? How and when did it start?

Ricks: "Ñ started from the idea of bringing our passion to life, making clothes, and hopefully inspiring others to explore style beyond what they’re used to. It actually began with a few designs that Iñaki sketched just for personal use, but then we thought, why not turn this into a brand? From there, it grew into something we wanted to wear ourselves, and eventually share with our family, friends, and more people who connect with what we create."

Where did the brand name come from?

Ricks: "Like our logo—illustrated by a bold double ñ, the name represents us as the two creative minds behind the brand, both carrying ñ’s in our names. We wanted something close and personal, and when the name came to mind, we immediately thought: yup, this is it! It’s also a nod to our love for Filipino design and craft, with a subtle touch of Spanish roots."

How would you describe your brand's style?

Iñaki: "Ñ tries to take silhouettes seen in international fashion and makes them distinctly Filipino, with a little added flair. We’re trying to challenge what it means for a stylish piece to be “wearable” while also staying true to a uniquely Filipino aesthetic."

Ricks: "Our designs are also rooted in whether we’d actually wear them ourselves. One of the thought processes would also be like - if it’s something we’d wear, then it’s something we’d love to make and share with others."

Who or what have inspired your designs?

Iñaki: "Honestly, I’m inspired by the most random things! Sometimes it could be small details I see around (like the way light shines through leaves, the way a specific building looks, already growing trends in fashion), or sometimes I’m inspired by the fabric itself and the way it flows. At the root, I try to design with the idea that nothing is off-limits in terms of what you can be inspired by."

What's the biggest challenge you've faced so far in putting up your own label, and how were you able to overcome it?

Ricks: "I think for us, it’s really about just putting ourselves out there and pushing the brand, especially at a time when so many big brands are established and new ones are popping up. The question was, how do we get people to know us? So, we decided to take a leap and start joining bigger pop-ups this year, and we will definitely do more in the future. That way, we get to meet people, and they also get the chance to see and try our pieces in person."

Alternatively, what's been your biggest achievement or proudest moment so far?

Iñaki: "Personally, my proudest moment was the first time we prototyped my design in its final form. It took a lot of nitpicking and adjusting to make sure that each piece was something we were truly proud of producing. Seeing it, in real fabric, was such a win in my book."

Ricks: "My proudest moment would have to be the first time we joined a pop-up. At first, I wasn’t sure if people would actually come to our booth or buy anything, but since it was my friend who organized it, I knew we had to join and take that first step of putting ourselves out there. I’m generally a shy person, but interacting with and talking to the people who dropped by made me incredibly happy, especially seeing that they genuinely liked and supported the brand. That moment kind of solidified that we can do it, and just hearing others be excited about the brand and how much they like the pieces lit a fire in us and really work on the brand and grow it."

If you want to get your hands on an Ñ piece, you can pre-order through their Instagram account, with prices starting at P3590. Production takes one to two weeks since they customize each piece to your measurements. Their linen Tali set offers a versatile top and bottom ensemble that creates an elevated look when worn together but serve as hero pieces when mixed in with your other wardrobe staples. Apart from ordering it to your size, you also have the choice between a normal or cropped fit, allowing you to personalize it further based on your style.

The brand also joins pop-ups, so make sure to follow their social media page for updates on where you can see them next.