Somewhere in a small town, an 18-year-old watches their mother sew, wondering if their ideas will ever matter beyond the walls of their home. In another city, a young designer sketches at dawn, hoping that talent alone will be enough to break through. The Philippines is teeming with creatives—visionaries in the making, waiting to be discovered, mentored, and given a fighting chance. But waiting isn’t an option anymore. If we don’t actively seek them out, support them, and propel them forward, we risk losing an entire generation of Filipino design brilliance before it even begins.
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The launch of the national design competition was marked by a special luncheon at Chef Jessie in Rockwell, where industry leaders and creatives gathered to discuss the importance of Filipino artistry. Fashion Aid Philippines’ The Grant is a competition that operates like a search party: A full-scale mission to find the next great Filipino designers in fashion, accessories, and lifestyle.
It is a search for those who remain unseen—the designers in distant provinces, the visionaries shaping ideas in isolation, the talents who could redefine Filipino design if given the space, the guidance, and the belief that their work is world-class.
How to Apply
Open to 18- to 30-year-olds across the country, The Grant offers a scholarship, product development support, and a showcase in Paris.
To apply, interested participants must submit the following:
- Scanned copy of a valid government ID.
- 5-minute video presentation about their existing featured product.
Send to [email protected]. Auditions and submission of video entries runs from April 1 – May 15, 2025.
Action, Not Possibility, Will Shape Filipino Design
At its core, The Grant seeks those still carving their place, pushing against obscurity. It is not a machine for mass production, nor a shortcut to commercial success. It is a platform for artisans, risk-takers, and visionaries—those who honor the past yet refuse to be confined by it, who see tradition not as a boundary but as a foundation for something entirely new.
As designer Yiori Augousti put it on his speech, it’s no longer enough to admire success from afar. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about artistic directors for luxury brands who come from towns of 2,000 people, who grew up watching their mothers sew. We have to make that happen for the Philippines.” The talent is here, always has been. The challenge is making sure it doesn’t get left behind.
Filipino design has long existed in the periphery—admired, referenced, yet seldom given the investment. Recognition abroad begins with commitment at home. It requires seeking out those with no lineage in the industry, no inherited access, only talent sharpened by instinct and persistence. Ambition alone is not enough; structures must be built, opportunities made tangible. The future of Filipino creativity depends not on possibility but on action.
“This initiative is our investment in the future of Filipino design. It supports emerging designers through mentorship, cultural exchange, and the opportunity to be part of a larger movement that centers on identity, heritage, and innovation.”
Paul Cabral on the purpose of The Grant
The winners will be announced on September 2025. It is the window in which The Grant must seek out, cultivate, and propel the next generation of Filipino creatives. It is both a challenge and an imperative. The true measure of ambition now lies in the effort to unearth it, to shape it, to ensure that it does not remain unseen. The responsibility to keep pace, to carve a space where Filipino design is not merely acknowledged but indispensable, rests in the hands of those willing to act.
For more information about The Grant, follow Fashion Aid Philippines on Instagram.
Photos: FASHION AID PHILIPPINES
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