Mark Bumgarner and Vania Romoff Join Forces with Plains & Prints for a Special Collaboration
Have an exclusive first look at the capsule collection's campaign starring Anne Curtis.
Published on Sep 12, 2025
This 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Plains & Prints.
What began in 1994 as an 11-square-meter stall inside Shoppersville Plus in Greenhills, San Juan, has since grown into one of the country’s most recognized fashion brands. Founded by Roxanne Ang-Farillas, Plains & Prints started as a young college student’s dream of building her own clothing line. Three decades later, that dream has expanded into an enduring nationwide presence, with boutiques in malls all over the Philippines.
To celebrate this milestone, the brand is unveiling a special capsule collection in collaboration with two of the country’s most sought-after designers: Mark Bumgarner and Vania Romoff. Launching on September 17, the collection is designed to make the women who wear it become their most confident and stylish selves.
Back in April, Preview got a front-row seat to seeing the campaign shoot unfold for this special collaboration. Lensed by Mark Nicdao and under the creative direction of Eldzs Mejia, the shoot starred Anne Curtis—the ageless Plains & Prints muse—dressed in key pieces from the line.
Up close, the clothes instantly reveal the hands behind them. The collection spans 11 different styles, each offered in a variety of colorways. The special lineup marries both designers’ distinct signatures. From Vania’s end: a pencil skirt finished with her iconic bow detail, a Camisa-inspired top, and a voluminous drop-waist skirt. From Mark’s: floral-inflected motifs in the form of tube tops with ruffled bubble hems, ruched sleeveless blouses, and tube tops with cinched waistlines. Together, they form a highly wearable lineup that feels true to their respective house codes—bringing their signature designs into the everyday wardrobes of a broader audience.
Through the years, the brand has built a practice of working with Filipino designers. For instance, during its 25th anniversary in 2019, Plains & Prints tapped 15 local talents—including both Mark and Vania—for a celebratory collection.
In a 2019 interview with Preview, Roxanne explained how she’s long sought to make Plains and Prints an avenue where she can champion local talent. "Our partnerships with these amazing local designers are always an exercise of bringing together these codes into the mix, and allowing them to translate their unique vision into the Plains & Prints DNA," she shared.
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Five years later, that philosophy remains as strong as ever. With three decades behind it, Plains & Prints continues to use its platform to champion local talent, aligning with designers whose work resonates with the modern Filipina. And among the designers in the local landscape today, Mark and Vania are names that have built a body of work that fully aligns with that ethos.
The Making of Plains & Prints' Special Collab with Mark Bumgarner and Vania Romoff
When two of the country’s most celebrated designers come together, expectations are inevitably high. Yet for Mark and Vania, their upcoming collaboration with Plains & Prints wasn’t about overthinking or overcomplicating the process—it was about creating clothes that women would want to wear.
“It was a no-brainer to say yes,” says Mark, recalling the moment the idea was proposed. “When they asked if Vania and I were okay to work together, I thought, of course.” Vania had the same gut reaction. Having previously collaborated with Plains & Prints on three separate occasions—one solo project, another for breast cancer awareness, and a third for the brand’s anniversary—she didn’t hesitate. “I had to say yes. I never collaborated with another fashion designer for a retail brand before, so this felt new and exciting,” she shares.
While the pairing might seem unexpected to some, the duo’s distinct aesthetics just naturally harmonized with each other. As the two sat down to conceptualize, they quickly found their rhythm. “There was no conversation of, like, ‘How do we meet halfway?’” Mark explains. “It was very natural. As cliché as it sounds, super chill and smooth yung process namin. Even down to choosing the colors—everything occurred to us in a snap, super bilis.”
Vania echoes this sentiment with ease. “From the get-go, we agreed that we just needed to make beautiful clothes. Pieces that can be worn and work for everyone— intentional designs that are versatile and fun.”
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Vania and Mark working in their respective ateliers. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF PLAINS AND PRINTS
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The collection, set to roll out after months of work, comprises 11 different styles, each rendered in a variety of colorways and prints. The designers also added embroidered logo tees into the mix— playful extras that they admittedly wanted to wear themselves.
That flexibility was crucial, especially given the Plains & Prints woman they were designing for—a persona they both know well. “Roxanne is that woman,” Mark says, referencing Roxanne, who also happens to be a long-time client of both designers. “We pretty much know her. There didn’t have to be a brief.”
Key Pieces from Plains & Prints' Collab Collection with Vania Romoff and Mark Bumgarner
For Mark, working on the collection challenged him to pare down his techniques. “The challenge for me was to simplify the construction but still have the same visual impact.”
Anyone with a Mark Bumgarner piece is bound to encounter some crisp boning and structured ballgown silhouettes. “Even though it looks simple, I like construction to be very complicated. So with this, I had to work in reverse,” he explains.
He points to one look in particular: “It’s done with the poofs on the top and the skirt. Very easy to wear, which is not my forte... So with this, it’s the complete opposite.” Still, he made sure to leave his signature touch to the garments. “Of course, you will see the bows. Mine always has that cinched waist, the hourglass.”
Vania similarly leaned into her signatures without hesitation. “The pieces are feminine and wearable—something you can easily incorporate into your existing wardrobe.” Her favorite? “The bias cut full skirt in polka dot taffeta. This one I can see being worn over and over again.”
In this collection, both designers wanted the pieces to feel exciting but approachable, elevated yet rooted in their design codes. “The collection was meant to be fun and easy,” says Vania.
Needless to say, the collaboration is ultimately about bringing topnotch Filipino design to a broader market. “Collaborating with retail brands helps bring your design to a wider audience,” Vania notes. “There is so much talent in the local fashion scene and it’s a great way of reintroducing designs for more to appreciate.”
Where to Shop Mark Bumgarner and Vania Romoff's Plains and Prints Collection
The capsule collection will be available at Plains and Prints stores nationwide starting September 17.
Visit the brand’s physical boutiques located in SM North Edsa, Greenhills Mall, Glorietta 1, Trinoma, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, Shangrila Plaza, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Manila, SM Aura, SM Pampanga, Ayala Bay Mall, Uptown Mall BGC, SM Clark, Robinsons Magnolia, SM Baguio, Robinsons Tuguegarao, SM Tuguegarao , Ayala Solenad, SM Calamba, SM Lipa, SM Sto. Tomas, SM Lucena, SM Batangas, SM Lemery, Nuciti BCMB, Nuciti Calapan, Pacific Mall Legaspi, SM Sorsogon, SM Legaspi, Robinsons Tacloban, Ayala Cebu, Robinsons Dumaguete, SM Bacolod, SM Iloilo, Robinsons Butuan, SM CDO, SM Davao, Ayala Malls Abreeza, Gaisano Davao, Gaisano Tagu, KCC Gensan, KCC Zamboanga, Red dot Calasiao, Chimes, and Robinsons Pagadian.
For online shopping, the collection will also be available through, www.plainsandprints.com, Zalora, Lazada, and Shopee.
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Production and story by Paulina Singh
BTS videos and photos by Teddy Garcia Jr.
Pau is Preview’s go-to fashion girl. On most days, you’ll find her with headphones on, coffee in hand, and likely dressed in an oversized blazer and floor-grazing jeans.