Rajo Laurel Unveils First Look at His 2026 Couture Collection "Lahi"
The veteran designer is set to unveil the full collection with a runway show on January 30 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Published on Dec 4, 2025
On Tuesday, December 2, Rajo Laurel welcomed members of the press for an exclusive preview of his upcoming 2026 couture collection. In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s Malikhaing Pinoy program, the veteran designer is set to debut a 30-piece lineup through a runway show in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 30, 2026.
DTI Malikhaing Pinoy is the agency’s flagship initiative for strengthening the Philippine creative economy, guided by the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act. The program supports artists, makers, and enterprises across multiple creative sectors through capacity-building, market access, promotion, and innovation—tools that allow the country’s creative talent to drive long-term economic growth.
The landmark showcase represents a significant milestone for the initiative. It forms part of the partnership between the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council (PCIDC) and Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency (CEA), a collaborative effort designed to deepen regional ties and expand opportunities for creative exchange and strategic trade.
Rajo’s presentation also coincides with Bangkok Design Week. In her opening remarks during the preview, DTI Asec. Nylah Rizza Bautista noted that the timing “creates even more opportunities for visibility, connection, and global engagement.”
“It is our commitment to ensure Filipino creatives are not just present globally, but also highly influential,” she said.
About "Lahi," Rajo Laurel's 2026 Couture Collection
Lahi—translated as “lineage”—anchors Rajo Laurel’s exploration of Filipino identity. The collection draws from a broad spectrum of historical and cultural references found across the archipelago.
“‘Who is the Filipino?’ This is the question I explore in this collection, Lahi,” Rajo shared in a press statement. “Being Filipino can mean many things. There is no single definition of our culture.”
To articulate this vision, he worked closely with fellow Filipino creatives: jewelry designer Arnel Papa, fan-maker Monchét Diokno Olives, bag designer Celestina Maristela Ocampo, shoe label MX Studios by Maxine Santos Tuaño, and costume designer Cholo Ayuyao, who created the collection’s headpieces.
“Lahi is a storyboard of Philippine fashion developed through collaboration. Bayanihan is a core Filipino value,” Rajo explained. “There is strength in creating a point of view together with other Filipino creatives.”
The Story Behind Each Look from the Preview Collection
For the intimate press preview, Rajo unveiled 7 of the 30 looks set to appear in Bangkok.
The presentation opened with contemporary takes on the barong for both menswear and womenswear. Called the “Bagong Barong” and "Manileña," reinterpreted the formalwear staple using jusi, styled with farmer-inspired silhouettes and jute bibs. Handmade stampitas by Cholo Ayuyao and lanyard abaniko fans by Monchét Diokno Olives of Casa de la Mercedes completed the ensembles.
The third look revisits Rajo’s encounters with world-renowned Baguio weaver Nada Capunan.
Based on an archival 2017 design, the piece captured Mountain Province’s weaving traditions through a vibrant composition of colors and textures rendered in a corseted column dress. A crocodile bag by Masbate-born designer Celestina Maristela Ocampo and hyper-extended pointed-toe shoes by MX Studios further sharpens its silhouette.
Rajo then turns to the T’boli tribe with the “Datu,” named after the pre-colonial chieftain. Presented in shades of navy, the ensemble merges paper silk with ramie linen trousers and a traditional malong, finished with a Benguet tampipi and a large bead tassel from Dumaguete—pieces that highlight the richness of indigenous materials.
The next look celebrates Mindanao’s vibrant festivities. Called “Kadayawan”—named after Davao City’s annual August festival honoring harvest, culture, and indigenous heritage—the ensemble features a bodice woven from Sorsogon straw and cropped culottes created using a “jut”-inspired rayon-and-silk weave from Ilocos.
The “Mestiza” reimagines the classic palma and camisa/blusa combination using woven and dyed jusi from Iloilo, paired with a skirt crafted from raw silk and abaca from Abra. Black silk royal blooms with coq feathers handmade in Pampanga by Cholo Ayuyao.
Closing the preview is “Paradiso,” a piece created in collaboration with Arnel Papa that honors the natural landscapes of Palawan. The gown incorporates Palawan pearls with capiz shells from Bacolod and is styled with an oversized raffia straw clutch
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.