Recommended Video
If there is one thing we can be sure of whenever Avel Bacudio releases a collection, it is that it will always be an ode to the Philippines. Throughout his decades-long career, the designer has evolved into a cultural advocate, incorporating sustainable, locally sourced textiles into modern silhouettes that seamlessly bridge tradition and innovation. His latest collection, Alas ng Pilipinas (inspired by the national volleyball team), extends this dialogue, channeling a narrative of heritage, resilience, and pride.
RELATED: André Plaus and His Fever Dreams Inc. are Out of This World
Early this year, Bacudio launched Gintong Sinag, a sports luxe collection that paid tribute to the country’s athletes. This was followed by the fundraising Spike for a Cause, a series of women’s wear that raised funds for the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team. “Kapag nananalo lang sila, tsaka natin sila nabibigyan ng appreciation. Yung pinagdadaanan nila bago sila maka- kuha ng gintong medalya, hindi natin nakikita [They are only appreciated whenever they win. We don’t see what it has taken for them to win that gold medal],” expressed the designer. As he continues to explore sportswear with his signature bold weaves and precision tailoring, he redefines sportswear as a meeting point of cultural tradition and modern athletic grace.
Bacudio is consistently elevating the works of those he deems are often overlooked and undervalued, as demonstrated by his enduring collaboration with local weavers across the Philippines. For the Alas ng Pilipinas collection, he gathered weavers from Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga, Ilocos, Abra, La Union, Aklan, and Bacolod to use special fabrics developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI). Using textiles made from piña, bamboo, water lily, abaca, and saluyot fibers, Bacudio and the weavers reimagined suits and ensembles that interweave heritage patterns with sculpted silhouettes. Rendered in a medley of blue, red, white, and yellow, the collection evokes the chromatic power of the national flag and the spirit it embodies. “The collection represents every island of the Philippines. Ang nakikita mo ay bago, pero may kwento ng nakaraan [They are new, but they have history],” stressed Bacudio. In all of this, Bacudio always frames himself not as the star but as a conduit, drawing attention to the artistry of his weavers and the athletes who inform his vision.
Read more about Avel Bacudio’s sartorial mission for the Philippines in MEGA’s October 2025 issue now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Images courtesy of AVEL BACUDIO. Photographed by DION TRINIDAD. Hair and makeup by BONGBONG BUAN. Models COLE MICEK and MERILLE MADAUS-BRÜCK
