Neric Beltran Talks About Creating Deconstructed Looks for Preview Ball 2026

On September 10, 2026, Manila’s fashionable creative community put their best looks forward for Preview’s biggest night of the year: the Preview Ball. This year’s theme? Deconstructed Fashion. A celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation has brought Filipino fashion to where it is today.

One Filipino designer worn by many guests was fashion industry veteran and 2024 Preview Best Filipino Fashion Designers (BFFD) honoree Neric Beltran—renowned for his avant-garde sensibilities and for being September cover star Vice Ganda’s long-time designer.

“[I was] excited because [deconstruction] has been a style I’ve been doing since I started my career,” Neric shared. “It has always been a style that I’m always willing to take on.”

What’s so special about deconstruction? Neric explained, “Deconstructing helps a lot of us designers to discover and challenge our capabilities and craft. [It helps] us hone our skills and find our design style. For me, it’s personal, [because] it tests your limits and challenges your thought processes, which further elevates your craft.”

For the 2026 Preview Ball, Neric dressed special guests, including Summit Media President and CEO Howard Go, Summit Media General Manager of Online Business Christine Sandejas, and IQOS* Club Members Anna Zemirah Maloloyon and Vert Alvarez.

Neric approached the task by first getting to know each wearer. “Getting to know them plays a big role in the design of the garment,” he explained. “[I wanted to create] something personal for them, rather than just [creating] something I feel like making for them.”

This meant balancing his own creative instincts with each wearer’s personality. To add an even more personal touch, he asked each to send pieces from their own wardrobes for him to rework. He called this approach “reconstructed deconstruction.”

“It’s a balance of interpreting both our visions for the garment's look and construction,” Neric shared. Being in the industry for over two decades, he shares that this approach has become a big part of his practice, with sustainability as the core of his work.

That design aspect was reflected in the looks he created for the ball. The result? Four looks that showcased his muses’ unique personalities, fashion fantasies, and his interpretation of each.

For Howard, the vision was a subtle approach to deconstruction, with mismatched panels at the front of his suit. Neric repurposed a panel from an existing suit as an accent on the new piece, then added an undone bow tie for a relaxed yet polished feel.

One of the many things to love about this year’s theme is the play of textures. For Christine, that vision comes through in shredded tweed, frayed edges as a skirt attachment, and pearl and bead embellishments that give the look a playful personality.

For Vert, Neric opted to create an outfit that captures his cool persona. The matching jacket and trousers highlight his patchwork and recombination techniques, bringing together Vert’s own garments and a mix of fabrics for a balanced look that’s neither too formal nor too casual—party-ready with a chic edge.

Chic and elegant, as Neric describes it, Anna’s look reimagines the gown through deconstruction, with slashing details that reveal and highlight her complexion. The technique creates the illusion that the gown is shedding off her body, letting her skin take center stage.

“[I wanted to know] something about them that I can translate through design, and help them comfortably express a part of them through the garments. [Like] an executive with an Anime Prince fantasy [or] a former pageant queen turned model.”

During the building process, Neric dismantled the four’s original clothing to create something entirely new. The process involved fraying tweed, combining two different tailoring styles in one jacket, turning cuffs into pocket flaps, and combining parts of three garments into a single outfit.

Then there was the edit, which Neric described as “the best thing about making the garments.”

“Everything isn’t final until the wearer gets to fit and share their thoughts,” he explained. “How it feels on them, if we were able to capture what they had in mind, or deliver the fantasy they wanted to express.”

For Neric, the creative process with the guests came naturally, as they were open to the concepts and collaboration. That openness gave him room to experiment with construction and craft, discover new possibilities, and create something personal for each wearer.

It takes boldness to see things differently. This willingness to experiment is what helps artists test their capabilities, sharpen their craft, and discover their own language.

Looking back on the experience, Neric shared that the project highlighted the beauty of design and construction, as well as the balance between the wearer and the creator. “Making a garment is always a collaboration,” he reiterated. “The beauty of it is helping the wearer discover a part of their personality through the design process.”

And among other things, being willing to get things wrong is also an important part of that process. To aspiring designers, Neric advised, “The mistakes are the right answers. They’re the best teacher.”

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