Designer and former MEGA Fashion Editor Patrick Galang is back after a seven-year hiatus
It’s a common occurrence for creatives to explore various mediums to expand their creativity. The constant challenge to improve one’s artistry is a must, as well as pushing the bounds of the art in their surroundings—it’s how a new idea or concept is born through the culmination of their experience. We see this happening once again as former MEGA Fashion Editor Patrick Galang goes back to his roots as a designer as he launched his first collection after a seven-year pause.
The early years
Despite being on a design hiatus, his days were still quite busy after becoming MEGA’s Fashion Editor, as well as a contributing stylist on the side—ensuring that his creativity remained constantly active. He expressed that despite stepping back from designing for a while, his passion still remained. “I guess when you have stopped creating for so long, you just miss it.”
And before he was in the world of publishing, he was already making a name for himself as a designer when he had his first show at the Philippine Fashion Week back in 2008, and a top 5 spot in Project Runway Philippines. It’s safe to say that Patrick Galang left quite a mark in both design and publishing.
The comeback
Last Valentine’s Day, the local fashion scene was left in shock when Patrick Galang made a sudden comeback with his new collection titled No.1, which he announced on Instagram. Being the first collection, Galang shared that the reason behind the title is because it won’t be seasonal. The designer shared, “They will be presented in sequential order as time goes by. No. 1 is an introduction for the label, and I hope to release No. 2 soon.”
In true Patrick Galang fashion, the pieces were made with such minimalist style, but rendered with meticulous deconstruction techniques. The black and white photos of model, Valerie Delos Santos, showcased the three concepts behind the collection: Reassemble, Reengineer, and Repurpose. It might seem like a simple concept to grasp, but for Galang, the desire to design perfect garments isn’t his priority—it’s to find the beauty in imperfection.
“As a designer, I don’t desire to make the perfect garments because I’m not a couturier. I always find beauty in imperfections, whether it is an off-kilter silhouette, an asymmetrical shape, or an unfinished hem.”
Patrick Galang
The first concept, Reassemble, plays with the wearer’s creativity. It was made to be finished in various ways, making the piece versatile for any form and any occasion. This particular piece showcased the designer’s ability to create with such adaptability while maintaining the structure of the piece.
As for his idea of Reengineer, Patrick Galang goes back to the basics to further push his creativity to form a new silhouette. The idea dates back to a vintage pattern of a pair of men’s jeans, which was restructured to form a skirt that has unique drapings on the hems.
His last concept, Repurpose, is self-explanatory. The repurposed leather jacket features a split at the back by a zipper, which was then repainted with a water-based liquid color to enhance the jacket’s current state. In the end, the jacket evokes an edgy tone with subtle sophistication.
Photos courtesy of RAFGLANG
