This is an excerpt from the MEGA May 2025 ReWear feature
The local fashion industry is beginning to slow its pace. Once dictated by fleeting trends and dizzying cycles, local designers are now returning to their roots: intention, artistry, and soul. They’re returning to mindful creation, where garments are made not just to be worn, but to be lived in, cherished, and passed on.
This shift feels like a return home. The act of dressing has always been intertwined with history, heritage, and personal expression. There’s a growing appetite for clothes that tell stories, speak to personal values, and are made with longevity in mind.
At the forefront of this movement are APARA, Dona Lim, and Hindy Weber. They are reshaping the way we dress and what we value. In their hands, fashion becomes more than surface; it’s a reflection of care, clarity, and conviction. Less about trends, more about truth. A new kind of Filipino fashion scene—designed to last, meant to mean something.
RELATED: Young Designer Jillianne Santos’s Bid For Sustainable Fashion
APARA: THE ART OF CONSIDERED DRESSING
“Timeless over trendy, quality over quantity.”
Best friends Ariana, Nana, and Eya came together with a longing for pieces that transcend fleeting trends. “We were in this phase where we were really looking for quality pieces,” says Ariana, “pieces we could invest in, not just wear for a couple of months.” This is how APARA was born.
The brand’s commitment to longevity is reflected in every facet of its design. From the beginning, their vision was clear: to create garments that stand the test of time. “We’re intentional with the quality,” Eya shares. “We spend so much time on the patterns, making sure everything fits perfectly.” Their designs are built to be versatile, with clean lines and neutral colors, ensuring that each piece complements existing wardrobe pieces, season after season.
DONA LIM: A LANGUAGE OF LESS
“Sustainability isn’t a limitation, but an opportunity for creativity.” For Dona, conscious practices are not restrictions but an invitation to elevate personal style, allowing for a more thoughtful, curated approach to dressing.
“I design with sustainability at the core, embracing eco-conscious materials that are available and shaping my vision around them,” she explains. Her philosophy allows her to push boundaries, creating pieces that are both functional and beautiful. “True style is about intentionality, quality, and designing in a way that respects both the wearer and the world we live in.”
HINDY WEBER: DESIGN ROOTED IN REVERENCE
Hindy Weber’s return to fashion represents more than just a creative redirection—it’s a radical rethinking of how design, sustainability, and ethics intersect. After spending years in the fast-paced world of retail, she left the industry disillusioned by the waste, excess, and lack of ethics that often define mass production. “It didn’t feel right to me,” she says. “It was commodified, and the work I was putting into collections only to see them discarded didn’t resonate with how I wanted to live.”
After a sudden lifestyle shift, she was led to a deep exploration of sustainability, farming, and conscious choices. “I started looking into the soil,” she explains, “Then I got into food and farming, growing my own food at home.” In doing so, she rediscovered her love for fashion—now with a new perspective: one rooted in responsibility.
Read more about APARA, Dona Lim, and Hindy Weber and their approach to a slower and more sustainable fashion in MEGA’s May 2025 issue now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed by SELA GONZALES. Fashion Direction ROKO ARCEO assisted by ERICA TEROL. Art Direction TROY NONATO. Makeup and Hair JOHN MICHAEL ROBLES. (Gela) and KIM APRIL ZAPANTA. (Asiana) Editorial Assistant THESSMAR LECTURA. Models ASIANA DOESNT and GELA WALTER.
