Meet the Filipino Designers Who Are Headlining BYS Fashion Week 2023

BYS Philippines has been leading the charge in championing Filipino artistry and creativity since its establishment in 2012. Now on its 11th anniversary, the beauty brand continues to celebrate innovation and individuality, putting forward the local creatives who carry this torch of artistic expression. 

That’s exactly why they’re rolling out the catwalk a second time, from October 5 to 8, at the BYS Fashion Week (BYSFW) 2023. Dubbed The Filipino Palette: Same Same But Different, the four-day event aims to bring out the essence of Filipino fashion by exploring the innate connection between individuality and diversity. 

“Even though we are all Filipinos and represent the Filipino identity, we are all different. We are diverse and I believe that is what defines Filipinos being that the Philippines is a true melting pot of cultures,” says BYSFW Creative Director John Lozano. “We would like to echo this diversity in this year’s BYS Fashion Week as this is also what BYS stands for as a brand.” 

With this goal in mind, BYS has selected a wide roster of designers to spotlight on the runway, each one with a distinct fashion story to tell. Meet them below and learn more about the fresh perspectives that their collections will bring. 

HA.MU

Show details: 5 p.m., October 5, 2023 at B7 Bldg., BGC

After working together for a thesis fashion show at the De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Abraham Guardian and Mamuro Oki paired up after graduating to establish HA.MU. Best known for avant-garde silhouettes and maximalist constructions, HA.MU is the go-to for adventurous free spirits who perceive dressing up as playtime. That said, their latest collection Merry-go-round of Life explores non-gender conforming styles through oversized flowers, intricate ruffles, and massive shapes. As the two designers explain, “Since our pieces are meant to be enjoyable, we hope the audience will mostly feel elevated and joyful. We want to remind our audience of a period when they didn't have to feel constrained or held back in order to express their ideas freely.” 

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

ANTONINA 

Show details: 5 p.m., October 5, 2023 at B7 Bldg., BGC

Antonina Abad Amoncio describes her fashion label ANTONINA as “her own personal diary of memories.” A graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, her sartorial preferences represent her deepest emotions, socio-political beliefs, and everything else in between. Case in point: Her latest lineup combines wool, denim, and tulle to play with metaphors of rain and evoke the feeling of regret. “Subtle references and elements such as umbrellas, teardrops, cutouts, and even cloud-like draping will be seen in this collection. Another key element is the collective colorway, considering the theme is centered on the metaphors of rain,” Antonina explains. 

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

RAFA WORLDWIDE

Show details: 5 p.m., October 5, 2023 at B7 Bldg., BGC

Growing up as a queer individual in a small neighborhood, Raf Villas expresses the ebb and flow of emotions throughout his childhood in his Hyperballad collection. Similar to his other designs for RAFA WORLDWIDE, his newest pieces are characterized by bold colors, ethereal shapes, and recycled fabrics. He reveals, “The heart of the narrative is about summoning the courage to embrace one's authentic self, even when faced with the stifling pressures of societal norms. Hyperballad delves deep into the complexities of navigating these extreme emotions, oscillating between conformity and the powerful yearning for genuine self-expression.”

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

RANDOLF

Show details: 9 p.m., October 5, 2023 at Nike Courtyard, BGC

Although Randolf by RJ Santos initially started out as a streetwear brand in 2013, the local label is now lauded for revamping the traditional Barong Tagalog attire. The designer’s humorous pop culture references and youthful illustrations, however, continue to be common themes in his staple designs today. With this goal of finding joy in the mundane, his Ready to Serve collection narrates the perspective of a sleepy diner staff imagining her customers as stylish it-girls and it-boys. “I want [the audience] to feel happy and I want to see their smiles. Randolf is really about taking things easy, finding humor in the simplest things, and staying youthful,” RJ shares. 

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

NERIC BELTRAN

Show details: 5 p.m., October 6, 2023 at Whitespace Manila, Makati

Reconnecting with his roots as a costume designer, Neric Beltran experiments with non-conventional wedding ensembles for his FOREVER AFTER collection. “It is a modern and wearable bridal collection that encourages the customer to re-wear the pieces over and over,” he describes, mentioning the use of lace, silk, chiffon, and taffeta. Expect lots of hand-crafted flowers, embellished pieces, and sultry cuts—basically, anything that adds a sparkle of personality to the usual white bridal attire. 

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

CHRIS NICK

Show details: 9 p.m., October 6, 2023 at Whitespace Manila, Makati

Reminiscent of Gucci’s Tom Ford era, the Chris Nick brand is unmistakably sleek, sharp, and sexy. His designs usually feature clean tailoring and classic silhouettes rendered in tonal hues, with his newest lineup serving as the quintessential representation of this design ethos. “I was heavily inspired by the New York City nightlife. My recent trips have been an amazing experience and the people I met along the way were no short of fabulous. This collection is sort of that through my eyes,” he shares, referencing the collection’s emphasis on sex, glamor, and elegance.

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

ORIAS STUDIOS

Show details: 5 p.m., October 7, 2023 at Philippine Stock Exchange, BGC

Educated in both fashion and business, Vin Orias founded Orias Studios as a men's lifestyle brand upholding local artisans, sustainable corporate practices, and eco-conscious materials. His most recent collection utilizes brocades, high twist wools, and Japanese denims to highlight the brand’s signature Solihiya Weave pattern. According to Vin, these items are deeply emotional as they are globally relatable: “This collection is about the intersection of all my emotions; success, pain, joy, frustration and failure. As a creativepreneur, I simply want to create and spark a connection to the global market targeting first the South East Asian region.” 

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

CHEETAH RIVERA

Show details: 9 p.m., October 7, 2023 at BGC Immersive, BGC

Having been in the local fashion scene for a decade now, Cheetah Rivera hardly needs any introduction. The Project Runway Philippines runner-up and TernoCon finalist has been a favorite among countless Filipino style stars, including Heart Evangelista, Verniece Enciso, and Kyline Alcantara. Now, she’s celebrating her 10th anniversary with an unapologetically dramatic collection that reinterprets her most memorable archival works. “The theme is letting go of yourself, being authentic as you are and free as you can be,” she says. “It is always important for me when I design a collection to add a personal touch to it—a heart when you design.” 

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

VANIA ROMOFF

Show details: 4 p.m., October 8, 2023 at De Jesus Oval, BGC

Vania Romoff puts the woman as the centerpiece of all her designs. Encapsulating femininity and elegance alike, her understated designs bring women’s narratives to life and immortalize their most cherished memories. Vania continues to study the complex implications of being an empowered woman in her latest collection, bringing into play soft hues, light fabrics, and easy silhouettes. She shares, “Life as [a] career mom is hard enough. I try not to make the pieces difficult. Through the new collection, it shows my need to feel good without exerting too much effort by taking fabrics that can feel quite fussy and making them feel easy but just right—it is an instinctive collection.”

PHOTO: Mark Anthony Ducay and Team

Creative Director: Donnie Manaloto

Photographer: Dookie Ducay and Team

Makeup: Gery Penaso and Team

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