Rooted in heritage and crafted with intent, the designer’s latest collection elevates indigenous textiles beyond expectation, upholding their place in contemporary fashion
Avel Bacudio’s collection is made with love. Woven into its seams are the textures of home, the pulse of the land, the insistence that Philippine textiles belong on the global stage. Piña, abaca, and banana fiber take shape in designs that attain dynamism, a subversive perspective on the rigid contours of our still silhouettes. This isn’t reinvention. It’s recognition. He has long been a designer who balances vision with purpose, but this time, he turns his gaze homeward.
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Bacudio looks to the islands for inspiration, letting landscapes dictate his palette. Blue channels the pull of the ocean, yellow radiates the heat of the sun, beige mirrors the shore. Sheer fabrics catch the wind, light enough to move like air, substantial enough to hold a presence. “It’s my way of translating the soul of the Philippines into wearable art,” Avel explains.
The process challenged him to work with what was already there. No need for imported fabrics when homegrown materials hold their own. This realization reshaped his approach. The raw potential of Philippine textiles—so often overlooked—became the collection’s foundation.
“We don’t need to rely on imported fabrics,” he says, his words as firm as his belief in local craftsmanship. The collection makes its case without spectacle. The elegance of the weave, the fluidity of the cuts, the lightness of the layers—all proof that Philippine fabrics belong in the conversation of contemporary fashion as evolving materials.
“The Philippines is filled with raw materials waiting to be seen and elevated into high fashion.”
– Avel Bacudio on the quality of Filipino fabrics
Shot in New York City, the campaign strips the metropolis of its usual steel and glass, opting instead for a setting that feels more grounded—more brick than skyscraper, more open-air than enclosed. It plays with contrast, like shifting between genres of music or blending the familiar with the unexpected. This is diversity in motion, inclusivity without force. A meditation on globalization—not as separation, but as layered connections, where differences dissolve and common threads emerge. A stark contrast, but a deliberate one. The garments refuse to be out of place. Through Dion Trinidad’s lens, they take their space, as assured as any luxury piece from Paris or Milan. “Every picture he captures isn’t just a photograph, but a love letter to our heritage,” he says.
Bacudio sees this collection as the beginning. Research continues, new possibilities unfold. How do these textiles adapt to colder seasons? How far can they be pushed while preserving their essence? Questions worth exploring. Answers worth pursuing.
His gratitude extends beyond his own work. The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman have championed his advocacy, supporting the preservation and elevation of indigenous fabrics. Their backing has turned ideas into action, ambition into something tangible.
“I hope the next generation carries this legacy forward, preserving and innovating our rich textile heritage for years to come,” the designer shares. Fashion moves fast, but heritage holds steady. Other than chasing trends, Avel Bacudio is setting the foundation for what comes next.
Photographed by DION TRINIDAD
Hair Stylist JOSHUA HALLADAY
Models ADRIANNE KIARA, GRACE TARBET, and ALEX FASSEAS
