New York, London, Milan, and Paris have wrapped up their Spring/Summer 2027 shows. Now, the world’s next great fashion capital is ready to write its own story. Through Fashion Week Asia, Manila becomes the setting for a celebration of designers who helped establish the region’s place in contemporary style. More than anything, its inaugural edition promises an exciting glimpse of how much further Asian talent can go.
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Bringing their own perspectives to Manila are BAJUYO from South Korea; DUC STUDIO and KILOMET109 from Vietnam; Kelvin Morales, Maligaya by Roko Arceo, Novel by Prince Padilla, and Rosanna Ocampo from the Philippines; PLAZÄ from Malaysia; PONDER.ER from Hong Kong; Sophie Hong from Taiwan; TOTON from Indonesia; and Wisharawish from Thailand.
The Philippine contingent also includes Rajo Laurel, who will present ARCHIVO: A Gala Fashion Show, revisiting three decades of his work through a contemporary lens. Meanwhile, creative exchanges will bring together JUSTBONITA and VIKTOR for Lift Aesthetic Clinic; Maison Ignacio through New Era; and MONOHOMME with inspiration from IQOS.
Ahead of the inaugural Fashion Week Asia, here’s what you should know about its participating talents.
WISHARAWISH
Thailand
For Thai designer Wisharawish Akarasantisook, fashion offers an opportunity to explore abstract ideas through material and form. Originally from Buriram, Thailand, he brings a background in dramatic arts to his practice, where geometric shapes, repetition, and intricate patternmaking inform his distinctive designs. His interest in technical experimentation gives each collection a sense of artistic curiosity, with craftsmanship playing an important role in how his concepts take shape.
Rajo Laurel
Philippines
With decades of experience in Philippine fashion, Rajo Laurel has built a reputation for his expressive approach to design and meticulous craftsmanship. His creations span bridalwear, eveningwear, and ready-to-wear, often distinguished by sculptural silhouettes, elaborate embellishments, and a confident use of color. Textile experimentation also plays an important role in his work, which reflects his appreciation for Filipino artistry and contemporary fashion.
Kelvin Morales
Philippines
Classic menswear takes on unexpected proportions and textures in the work of Filipino designer Kelvin Morales. His namesake label explores experimental tailoringTailoringThe craft of cutting, shaping, and fitting garments, especially suits, jackets, and trousers, precisely to the body. Good tailoring relies on structure, proportion, and careful hand and machine work, andGo to Tailoring Glossary, intricate detailing, and the possibilities of traditional silhouettes through an artistic perspective. Filipino heritage and local textile practices provide a foundation for his collections, where familiar elements of men’s clothing receive unconventional treatments.
KILOMET109
Vietnam
The story of KILOMET109 begins with the artisans who produce its textiles. Founded in 2012 by Vietnamese designer Vu Thao, the label collaborates with communities across Vietnam to create handwoven fabrics and naturally dyed materials through traditional methods. Its production process remains local, from the cultivation of textile fibers to the construction of individual garments. Beyond clothing, Thao also brings these craft traditions into museums and galleries through installations that introduce Vietnamese textile heritage to international audiences.
PLAZÄ
Malaysia
Anisah Farid founded PLAZÄ in Kuala Lumpur with an appreciation for individuality and the different ways women express themselves through clothing. Cultural references, traditional silhouettes, and artisanal techniques inform the Malaysian label’s contemporary designs. Construction is particularly important to Farid’s approach, as she explores how familiar elements of heritage dress can accommodate modern tastes and personal interpretations.
MALIGAYA
Philippines
Aged fabrics, heirloom details, and traditional Filipino garments provide much of the inspiration behind Maligaya. Under designer Roko Arceo, these elements acquire new forms through contemporary patternmaking and construction. His work draws from domestic textiles and inherited craft practices, with particular attention to the textures and imperfections that reveal a material’s history. The result is a continuing exploration of Filipino dress and the memories that clothing can carry across generations.
TOTON
Indonesia
Indonesian traditions of dressmaking remain a rich source of inspiration for TOTON, the Jakarta-based label founded by Toton Januar and Haryo Balitar. Through fabric treatments, handcrafted details, and considered construction, the brand incorporates elements of cultural heritage into contemporary womenswear. Januar’s approach reflects an ongoing interest in how traditional techniques can find relevance in the wardrobes of women today.
NOVÈL
Philippines
British-Filipino designer Prince Padilla brings an experimental sensibility to Novèl, his independent fashion label from Manila. Before establishing the brand, he studied fine art and fashion and gained professional experience at Feng Chen Wang, Burberry, and Vivienne Westwood in the United Kingdom. His designs investigate sculptural form, unconventional construction, and material transformation across menswear and womenswear. Padilla won the MEGA Young Designers Competition in 2024 and was selected as one of Fashion Asia Hong Kong’s 10 Asian Designers to Watch in 2026.
DUC STUDIO
Vietnam
“Keep Fashion Weird” is the creative philosophy of Duc Studio, which Nguyen Minh Duc established in Saigon in 2019. The Vietnamese label embraces an unconventional aesthetic informed by the city’s street culture, with deconstructed tailoring, handcrafted denim, and layered silhouettes among its signatures. Traditional clothing also enters the conversation through experimental interpretations of the áo dài, which Duc adapts with contemporary construction techniques and an expressive approach to styling.
Sophie Hong
Taiwan
Few materials are as closely associated with Sophie Hong’s practice as HONG Silk, the distinctive textile she developed through decades of research into traditional Xiangyunsha and natural dyeing methods. The Taiwanese designer and interdisciplinary artist studied at Shih Chien University before continuing her education and couture training in France. Her career has since encompassed international exhibitions, museum acquisitions, and cultural exchange between Taiwan and France. In 2026, Hong received the distinction of Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur for her contributions.
Rosanna Ocampo
Philippines
Color, print, and a playful sense of femininity characterize the designs of Rosanna Ocampo. Educated at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, the Filipino designer has spent more than 15 years developing her approach to occasionwear, with collections that draw inspiration from travel, music, and personal experiences. Her pieces explore texture and sensuality through expressive patterns and silhouettes that reflect her appreciation for contemporary women’s style.
PONDER.ER
Hong Kong
Masculinity becomes a subject of creative exploration for Alex Po and Derek Cheng, the duo behind Hong Kong label PONDER.ER. Their gender-fluid designs experiment with silhouette, fabric, and construction to reconsider established conventions of menswear. Comfort and freedom of expression are central to the brand’s identity, which has earned recognition through the Yu Prize Grand Prize in 2022 and a semifinalist placement at the 2024 LVMH Prize.
BAJUYO
South Korea
Darni Park brings what he describes as an “engineering mindset” to BAJUYO, the South Korean label he founded in 2022. His interest lies in the construction and proportions of traditional hanbok, which he adapts for contemporary dressing with the help of experienced artisans. Traditional knots, embroidery, and carefully selected textiles remain important to the garments. BAJUYO has presented its work during Paris and Shanghai Fashion Weeks and received the Grand Prize at Korea’s Hanbok Design Project.
MONOHOMME
Philippines
Since its establishment in Quiapo, Manila, Monohomme Studios has expanded its creative vocabulary from menswear, introduced in 2022, to womenswear in 2026. Designer Mikayl Trinidad works across tailored separates and elaborate dresses, with an interest in expressive forms and decorative techniques. His recent collection takes inspiration from the pursuit of butterflies as a metaphor for ambition, expressed through vivid colors, detailed embellishments, and silhouettes that explore transformation.
JUSTBONITA
Philippines
Bonita Peñaranda approaches womenswear with an understanding of personal style and the occasions that shape how women dress. Through JUSTBONITA, she develops garments with an emphasis on silhouette, draping, and handmade details. Her butterfly-inspired collection explores metamorphosis through changes in shape and intricate beadwork, with the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly providing a visual direction for the designs.
VIKTOR
Philippines
What began as a bespoke denim label 23 years ago has developed into a broader exploration of tailoring and structured clothing under Filipino designer Ino Caluza. VIKTOR maintains its emphasis on precise fit and construction, with Japanese denim, fine wool, and premium leather among its preferred materials. Influences from architecture, art, and utilitarian dress inform the label’s approach to silhouette, where the properties of each fabric help determine the final form.
Maison Ignacio
Philippines
Finally, Jerald Ignacio’s experience as a celebrity stylist informs his approach to bespoke dressing at Maison Ignacio. The Filipino designer specializes in custom formalwear, from tailored suits to evening gowns, with particular attention to fit and individual preferences. His work combines classic tailoring with expressive colors and elaborate details, informed by an understanding of how clothing functions for special occasions and public appearances.
Featured image photographed by ALEXIS DAVE CO
Frequently Asked Questions
Fashion Week Asia is a celebration of designers who helped establish the region’s place in contemporary style, with its inaugural edition set in Manila. Held after the New York, London, Milan, and Paris Spring/Summer 2027 shows, it features 17 designers from across Asia.
Nine Filipino designers are featured in the lineup: Rajo Laurel, Kelvin Morales, Monohomme, Maligaya by Roko Arceo, Novèl by Prince Padilla, JUSTBONITA, Rosanna Ocampo, VIKTOR by Ino Caluza, and Maison Ignacio by Jerald Ignacio, spanning menswear, womenswear, bridalwear, and bespoke formalwear.
Beyond the Philippines, Southeast Asia is represented by Thailand’s Wisharawish, Vietnam’s KILOMET109 and Duc Studio, Malaysia’s PLAZÄ, and Indonesia’s TOTON. Several draw on local craft traditions, from KILOMET109’s handwoven textiles to TOTON’s Indonesian dressmaking traditions and Duc Studio’s áo dài interpretations.
BAJUYO’s Darni Park adapts the construction and proportions of traditional hanbok for contemporary dressing, while Duc Studio’s Nguyen Minh Duc experiments with the áo dài. PLAZÄ’s Anisah Farid also explores how heritage dress can accommodate modern tastes, and Maligaya’s Roko Arceo reinterprets traditional Filipino garments.
Prince Padilla of Novèl won the MEGA Young Designers Competition in 2024, Sophie Hong received Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur in 2026, PONDER.ER won the Yu Prize Grand Prize in 2022 and was a 2024 LVMH Prize semifinalist, and BAJUYO won the Grand Prize at Korea’s Hanbok Design Project.
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