Jaggy Glarino, Rhett Eala, and Joey Samson Stitch Shared Histories in Threads of Dreams

Three Filipino designers translate how fashion operates as cultural memory in this ongoing exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

By Anya Oxyn June 09, 2026

Jaggy Glarino: Migration Stories and Mindanao Heritage

Raised in General Santos City, Glarino’s design language seamlessly merges personal narrative, Filipino material culture, and progressive ideas on gender and identity. For this exhibition, his perspective is informed by migration histories and regional narratives, particularly those rooted deeply in Mindanao.

Glarino's work also reflects a growing global interest in Southeast Asian fashion — Glarino’s work also reflects a growing global interest in Southeast Asian fashion

As Glarino previously shared at the Business of Fashion forum regarding the global relevance of regional design, he positions his pieces as bridges linking personal experiences with collective tales of cultural adaptation.

Joey Samson: Precise Tailoring and Filipino-Japanese Fusion

Often called the “garment surgeon” for his meticulous approach to tailoring, Samson presents a compelling intersection of Filipino and Japanese aesthetics.

two women are conversing in samson's exhibit—Una Bulaqueña, the muse of painter Juan Luna’s 1895 portrait, and japanese lady o sei san, the subject of national hero Jose Rizal’s admiration — TWO WOMEN ARE CONVERSING IN SAMSON’S EXHIBIT—Una Bulaqueña, the muse of painter Juan Luna’s 1895 portrait, and japanese lady o sei san, the subject of national hero Jose Rizal’s admiration

With past presentations reaching international audiences in Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Tokyo, and Singapore, Samson’s pieces highlight his technical mastery while exploring how the design languages of two distinct cultures can converge without losing their essence.

Rhett Eala: Personal Memory and Inherited Elegance

Eala has spent more than three decades shaping the direction of modern Filipino design. In Threads of Dreams, he revisits personal memory, drawing specific inspiration from his mother, artist Roceli “Baby” Valencia, whose affinity for Japan shaped the visual world of his childhood through collected objects, textiles, and memorabilia. His current approach effortlessly blends traditional Filipino materials, such as piña, with Japanese high-fashion sensibilities.

from mother to son, the fascination and affection for japan becomes inherited

Together, the three designers invite viewers to experience fashion as a cross-cultural vessel that keeps history and memory vibrant.

The Threads of Dreams Exhibit is open to the public at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from June 2 to July 26, 2026.

Photos: BENCH

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Threads of Dreams exhibition?

Threads of Dreams is a fashion exhibition presented by BENCH, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and the Japan Foundation, Manila. It features over 60 garments from Filipino designers Jaggy Glarino, Joey Samson, and Rhett Eala, and runs at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from June 2 to July 26, 2026.

What does Jaggy Glarino’s Threads of Dreams collection represent?

Glarino’s contribution draws on migration histories and Mindanao heritage, presenting fashion as a bridge between personal narrative and collective cultural experience. Raised in General Santos City, he integrates Filipino material culture with progressive ideas on gender and identity rooted in regional Southeast Asian storytelling.

Why is Joey Samson called the “garment surgeon”?

Joey Samson earned the title for his meticulous, technically precise approach to tailoring. In Threads of Dreams, he channels that precision into a dialogue between Filipino and Japanese aesthetics, using the figures of Una Bulaqueña and Japanese lady O-Sei-San as symbolic conversation partners across cultures and history.

How does Rhett Eala incorporate Japanese influence into his Filipino fashion work?

Eala traces his affinity for Japan to his mother, artist Roceli “Baby” Valencia, whose collection of Japanese objects and textiles shaped his visual childhood. His Threads of Dreams pieces blend traditional Filipino materials like piña with Japanese high-fashion sensibilities, rendering the cultural inheritance tangible through garments.

Where and when can you see the Threads of Dreams fashion exhibition in Manila?

The Threads of Dreams exhibition is open to the public at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from June 2 to July 26, 2026. Admission details can be confirmed through the museum or BENCH’s official channels.