Everything That Happened at Manila Fashion Week 2025 Day 3

Iñigo Villegas continues his evolving pursuit of defining his design identity. During the Manila Fashion Week press launch last September, he hinted at a lineup that would “switch things up” — a forward-looking collection that builds upon and refines his signature aesthetic.

On the runway, Iñigo offered glimpses of that evolution. The opening look, a heather gray suit worn by model EJ Nacion, featured asymmetric panels and fringed details that perfectly embodied the designer’s ongoing transformation. The ensemble perfectly captures the balance between his earlier explorations and a more polished, mature sensibility.

Recognizable Iñigo signatures were still present: black body-skimming silhouettes, perforated textures, and studded leather embellishments. Yet, several pieces signaled a conscious departure from his typically daring creations.

This time, Iñigo leaned into texture play—heavy fringes, elaborate beadwork, and voluminous skirts—expanding his repertoire beyond his hallmark of flirty, rebellious femininity.

He also ventured into a livelier color story. Moving past his familiar palette of black, olive, and oxblood, he introduced richer tones of crimson and cerulean. Notably, one look made a striking departure from the color story— a bandeau top paired with a voluminous drop-waist skirt layered with bubble hems, swathed in a lustrous hue of amethyst purple.

What ultimately defined the collection was his meticulous craftsmanship and refined attention to detail.

“All 41 pieces [were] uniquely Inigo. You can really tell how cohesive everything was, but at the same time, nothing was similar to one another,” shared actress-model Michelle Dee, one of the designer’s muses for the evening.

The kids came out to play as SM Aura’s Samsung Hall transformed into a playground of nostalgia for DBTK’s debut on the runway.

The lights dimmed, and the show began not with models but with two children running across the stage, tossing paper airplanes into the air. The scene set the tone for what was to follow: a story of dreams taking flight.

The narrative recalled the brand’s humble origin—two brothers jotting down ideas on scraps of paper, folding them into airplanes, and letting them soar. It was a full-circle moment, aptly captured in the show’s title, “Folding Dreams Into Flight.”

Since its inception in 2012, DBTK has been associated with darker palettes, heavy fabrics, and statement tees that capture the grit of street culture. This time, however, the brand has shifted its gears.

“We only had three months to prepare for the show, so we really tried to go beyond our limits when it comes to designing the pieces,” shared Lester Beringuel, the brand’s associate creative director.

Oversized silhouettes and familiar codes—graphic tees, baggy denim, and sporty outerwear—were refreshed through pastel tones, paper crane-shaped bags, and pops of knitwear in bright hues. Even the harder-edged motifs—animal prints, cargo sets, and all-over graphics—were balanced with romantic flourishes. Scarves were tied like neckties, printed barrel bags swung from shoulders, and colorful silk accents peeked out from tailored coats and polished dress shoes.

The result was a collection that felt both nostalgic and new—an evolution of Filipino streetwear seen through a more optimistic lens.

By the end of the final walk, it was clear that DBTK had done more than simply present clothes. The Javier brothers effectively introduced their story to Manila’s fashion folk—one shaped by childhood dreams, carried forward by passion, and reshaped by time.

Actress Denise Laurel, who attended the show, summed up the sartorial experience perfectly: “The show is everything that I wanted and more. I lived in the 2000s, and everything that we used to wear is back but better than ever.”