Everything That Happened at Manila Fashion Week 2025 Day 2

OXGN’s participation this year marked its first runway show in eight years—a fittingly bold comeback that paid homage to its streetwear origins. Set against a dystopian, post-apocalyptic space, the collection explored the idea behind its namesake, “oxygen”—a fundamental element of life.

"We really wanted to show that OXGN is for everyone, and that we can offer something for everybody,” said Lord Rebueno, the brand’s communications manager.

The lineup was a study in elevated streetwear, with an emphasis on effortless layering. No longer bound by casualwear as a static category, the brand reframed everyday dressing as a canvas for experimentation and self-expression.

Key elements of classic streetwear—and the very essence that shaped it—took center stage. Denim appeared in relaxed, oversized forms: distressed cargos, animal-print bermudas, rhinestone-studded jeans, and acid-washed contrasts. Sports jerseys, another cornerstone of the genre, were reimagined through inventive details: rhinestone embellishments, patchwork construction, and asymmetrical draping.

Unexpectedly, the collection concluded with a jaw-dropping finale—a structured, A-line ball gown made from heaps of gathered jersey shirts, adorned with accents of flora and fauna.

Donnie Manaloto, executive producer of Manila Fashion Week, bared his thoughts about the collection:

Attendees echoed his sentiment, noting how the show elevated Gen Z dressing without losing its youthful spirit.

“The Gen Z look is clearly there, and the way everything was put together shows exactly how it can be elevated more,” said events producer Gem Carlo Ausa.

“Yung storytelling, intact siya, and I think that’s what really elevated the experience into a whole new level,” added designer-stylist Yana Kalaw.

For his Spring/Summer 2026 collection, Chris Nick revisited tailoring codes central to his design DNA—sharp, polished, and tinged with sensuality. His perennial staples resurfaced: boxy blazers, curve-skimming dresses, and sculpted power suits.

Once confined to a monochrome palette of black and ivory, the designer expanded his tonal range this season, introducing beige and brown hues rendered in lustrous fabrics that played with light and opacity.

As expected, the presentation was a star-studded affair. His runway, filled with celebrity muses he affectionately calls his “angels,” began with Rhian Ramos, who opened the show in a chest-baring bodycon dress with flowing sleeve panels that trailed to the floor.

Soon after Kyline Alcantara walked the runway, followed by Chie Filomeno, LA Aguinaldo, Max Collins, and Celeste Cortesi.

“Chris Nick did so well,” remarked fashion content creator Cess Tan. “I just really love how he did the blazers and the different cutouts, and how he created different silhouettes.”

Also seated front row were his close friends Dr. Hayden Kho and Nikki Huang, both of whom praised the designer’s evolution.

said Rustan's heiress Nikki Huang. “It’s feminine [with] the way he balanced the materials, the textures, and the opacity of the fabrics… so, so happy the way he manipulated this.”

“I love how Chris knows how to make people look powerful without trying too hard,” added Dr. Hayden Kho, celebrity dermatologist. “This show, in particular, felt very sleek, very confident, and ready for a bigger stage.”