Opening the first day, Patty Ang radiates confidence without losing composure in her first colorful collection after six years
Patty Ang may have built a reputation for classic silhouettes and feather details, but at BYS Fashion Week 2024, she’s doing something different: colors. Minimalist monochrome was her armor, but she cracked open the Crayola box and added a risky effect. For a designer who’s famously known for her refined, understated aesthetic, this new collection feels like she woke up one morning, grabbed a pastel, stared at it for five minutes, and thought to go rogue for the modern woman.
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Epiphanies for Experimentation
Experimentation, for her, is not about chasing the wild unknown but interaction on staying grounded in reality. “I’m not afraid to experiment, but I do avoid going too far where people won’t be able to relate to my designs,” she explains. “I always prioritize whether the pieces resonate with them.”
Ang often explores new fabrics and materials that work with her classic silhouettes, transforming them with subtle, impactful touches. “Mostly I would explore different fabrics and materials that could work with different silhouettes, or I create designs that can be worn repeatedly in different wayssEven an extra touch of feather detail or beading will transform a simple look.”
Ang’s designs fit in by offering freedom of self-expression while simultaneously standing apart by integrating that balance. “For me, there’s no standard to fashion nowadays. It’s about self-expression and dressing for yourself.” The world, long muted, revealed a new palette waiting to be worn. “This collection is striking and sultry, yet maintains softness and femininity,” she says.
Finding the Sweet Spot
The challenge is finding that sweet spot between innovation and continuity. “As cliché as it may sound, you can never go wrong with the classics.”
Her creative process involves incorporating newness into her designs, but always with an eye toward maintaining sophisticated silhouettes. “I do incorporate new ideas and different elements into my designs, which I think is always part of the creative process, but I always make sure they stay elegant and flattering.”
While this collection may venture into more spirited territory, Ang has expertly woven in her signature elements. She reflects her broadened horizons, yet subtly maintains her touches, like the familiar presence of feathers. If you think that sounds like a contradiction, welcome to her evolution.
Dialing Up the Drama
With chic designs, Ang has dialed up the drama—yet with a painter’s precision. It’s a bold stroke of color, not an explosion. The designer wanted fresh and light in her new collection. “We tried to bring back classics,” she says. “Then, it evolved into something new.”
She’s still the Patty Ang we know, with those silhouettes that give you just enough room to breathe and make you feel like a goddess at brunch, but this time around, the gloves are off. She’s gone bolder, playing with vibrancy while maintaining her sense of practicality.
Breaking the Rules Without Breaking a Sweat
Ang’s new collection offers that ease of wear that her loyal clients (and their loyal wardrobes) adore, but she’s daring you to mix it up a bit. Maybe it’s the intricately placed beading. Maybe it’s the way those pastels flirt with danger. Whatever it is, you can tell the designer’s pushing her own boundaries—and loving it.
Each piece in her collection carries its own distinct personality, mirroring the uniqueness of the women who wear them. “Just like how each look from this collection has its own individuality and beauty, I hope women will confidently embrace their uniqueness and enjoy expressing themselves in any outfit they wear,” Ang says.
Through her designs, Ang wants to take women on an emotional journey—one that reflects where modern Filipino women are today: unapologetically confident, stylish, and free to embrace their individuality.
“Confidence is key—I want my woman to feel confident.”
Patty Ang on the woman who wears her clothes
It’s not easy being a designer with a recognizable style and then deciding to shake things up. There’s always the risk of losing the plot. But instead of fumbling, Patty Ang has managed to blend her trademark simplicity with a level of flamboyance that actually works. The woman knows how to take risks without falling flat on her face—and if that’s not a life lesson we can all appreciate, what is?
Photographed by GRANT BABIA
