The scene: You’re an adult with a natural inclination for the arts. Against the mental pros and cons list you use to deliberate your life choices rationally, your soul sings when creativity is involved. The problem is that you, with all your brilliance and ambition, are also your own saboteur. You’re capable of dreaming big while coming up with a hundred reasons not to. What if you fail? What if you’re not talented enough? What if this isn’t financially viable?
What if you gave yourself permission to try anyway, Filipino designer Brandon Chan might chime in, having done exactly that before unveiling his first collection at Asian New York Fashion Week.
Inside Brandon Chan’s Journey to Asian NYFW
“No matter how stagnant you think your life is right now, things will never be permanent,” Chan shares with MEGA. “You will soon find the palette suited for you, and you’ll thrive.”
He speaks from experience. Despite being interested in art and creativity since childhood, he spent years in the corporate world before deciding he wanted to build a business around what he genuinely enjoyed. Today, he describes his designs as contemporary, clean, and precise, considering the preferences of his clients alongside his own. “For me, it’s about creating something that feels true to the client while still reflecting my identity as a designer,” he explains.
Much of his perspective comes from the women he grew up around. Chan credits their strength and dedication, along with their own love for fashion, for shaping how he approaches womenswear today. Their influence also became the starting point for his runway debut.
“When I was trying to look for an (inspiration) for this collection, I knew it just had to be something that exudes power and confidence,” he says. “I grew up with powerful and strong women beside me, supporting me in this journey. And I want to give that support back to them by empowering them through my craft.”
On the runway, Chan keeps his silhouettes close to the body before letting draping and volume alter their shape. Corseted bodices meet sweeping skirts, while asymmetric dresses gather and fall around the hips. Black and brown anchor the palette before blue and yellow add contrast, with beading and sheer finishes bringing shine. Even at its most revealing, the collection remains controlled, balancing exposed skin with the precise construction Chan considers central to his practice.
“There is power in owning your body. Fashion is one of many ways to express yourself. Rules (are) non-existent—our saboteurs made those up.”
—BRANDON CHAN
Of all the looks he presented, Chan singles out the fringe dress and fully beaded gown as neither was easy to construct. Working through those challenges with his team gave him another reason to value the finished pieces: “The journey I had with my team building showed me what grit and determination can do.”
Brandon Chan Now Knows What Taking a Chance Can Do
“Growing up in the province, I never thought that doors like this would open for me,” Chan says. “It makes me more hopeful for Filipino creatives.”
The experience has also made Chan more certain about the road ahead. He wants to develop a stronger, more consistent design language, one recognizable as his own. “I want people to have a clearer understanding of who Brandon Chan is—my aesthetic, my vision, and what I stand for as a designer,” he proclaims. “The next chapter is really about defining my identity and growing the brand.”
It’s a future he couldn’t have mapped out if he hadn’t grabbed his chance. So, to the artist with the mental pros and cons list from earlier: keep it. Ask the practical questions. Know what you stand to lose and prepare accordingly. Then, like Brandon Chan, take the leap of faith even if you’re afraid and see what you’re capable of.
Who knows? You might even surprise yourself.
Photos courtesy of BRANDON CHAN
Photographed by JAYSON SILVA, JENNELLE LEDESMA, and DHRUV PANDIRI
