Nicolo Perez Reconnects with Womenswear Through R.A.F.
The collection launches in stores nationwide on February 10.
Published on Feb 6, 2026
The year begins with a new creative chapter for R.A.F., as the homegrown retail brand teams up with Filipino designer Nicolo Perez. For its latest release, the brand taps the menswear designer for a womenswear capsule that signals a shift for both parties.
“We wanted to get someone very young, someone fresh. So Nicolo, being a menswear designer, it’s something very interesting—it’s something new to us,” says Roxanne Ang-Farillas, founder of R.A.F.
For much of his career, Nicolo has been associated with menswear. Organic curves, asymmetric cuts, and anthurium motifs have become part of his distinct design language. This latest project, however, isn’t uncharted territory for the creative.
“Actually, before I was designing menswear, I really started with womenswear,” Nicolo tells Preview. “When I started falling in love with fashion as a kid, I already started sketching up gowns and dresses.”
Far from unfamiliar terrain, the collaboration marks a return to his beginnings. Through R.A.F., Nicolo reconnects with the foundation of his brand’s journey—this time on a much larger stage.
The R.A.F. x nicolò Collection
Titled “un trajé,” the line frames contemporary womenswear as an abstraction of the Traje de Mestiza—the aristocratic Filipino dress that emerged during the Spanish colonial period.
Traditionally, the Traje de Mestiza consists of a camisa with voluminous, drop-shoulder sleeves, a pañuelo (scarf), a tapis (overskirt), and a floor-length saya. For this capsule, Nicolo extracts structural elements from these components and integrates them into denim jorts, tailored vests, and gauzy skirts and blouses.
His interest in the Traje de Mestiza dates back to his time at SoFA Design Institute, where he studied under celebrated costume designer Gino Gonzales. An in-depth study of the national dress left a lasting mark on the then fashion student.
“I’ve always been drawn to the Traje de Mestiza because of its structure, but at the same time it felt very light,” he notes. “So when I got invited to do a womenswear collection, that was my first instinct—to tap into that inspiration again.”
While the direction may feel new, the aesthetic remains unmistakably his. Crisp lines, undulating contours, sharp construction, and off-kilter silhouettes define the 16-piece offering, each rendered in two color variations.
In many ways, the collection presents a distilled interpretation of his visual codes, applied to a womenswear lineup.
Utility is put front and center. Pockets appear across vests, skirts, and sheer organza tops.
Standout pieces include high-waisted denim trousers paired with a detachable self-tie sash. It can be styled as a tapis, wrapped around the neck, or even worn as a top. The detail reinterprets the traditional overskirt while responding to the current appetite for modular dressing.
The exacting discipline of menswear informs much of the construction. Instantly, the sharp tailoring commands attention.
Whether in rigid denim or translucent organza, the garments strike a balance between structure and ease. The collection features a cohesive palette of blues, tangerine, and deep green, alongside black and white. Clean-cut shapes form curved edges, creating garments attuned to the country’s perennially tropical climate.
“This collection feels a bit emotional to me too, as a designer,” he says. “It’s personal to me, and it also harkens back to our Filipino heritage and traditions.”
For many independent creatives in the Philippines, scaling production and distribution presents a recurring cycle of challenges. Without expansive institutional support, visibility often relies on digital platforms or occasional pop-up stores, where financial risks can outweigh returns.
Partnering with an established retail network such as R.A.F. offers designers like Nicolo expanded reach. For him, the collaboration opens access to a wider market while maintaining authorship over his design ethos.
“Many local designers don’t have the means to produce clothes at this scale,” he points out. “So working on this was so much fun—I felt like I was creative directing for a brand.”
Where to Shop the R.A.F. x nicolò Collection
The collection arrives in R.A.F. boutiques nationwide beginning February 10, 6pm.
Physical locations include their stores in Shangri-La Plaza, Alabang Town Center, and Robinsons Magnolia. The collection will also be available through MAISONETTE boutiques (Power Plant Mall, Opus Mall, Ayala Vertis North), select Plains and Prints stores (SM North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, Glorietta 1, Uptown Mall BGC, Ayala Bay Mall, SM Aura, SM J Mall Cebu, Gateway 2, GH Mall, SM La Union, SM Lipa), and Chimes Boutiques (Abreeza Mall, Davao
Flagship Store, Governer Sales St., Davao)
Online, the range will also be stocked at rafmanila.com, as well as on Zalora, Lazada.
Pau is Preview’s go-to fashion girl. On most days, you’ll find her with coffee in hand, and dressed in an oversized blazer with floor-grazing jeans.