An Ode to Self

Fashion became a way for me to reconnect with myself; to unlearn the cultural and religious expectations I grew up with as part of my Filipino heritage, and to rediscover who I am. Through design, I have learned to translate emotion into form, using fabric and cut as a language for what words cannot express. Each piece carries fragments of strength and vulnerability, shaped by moments of doubt, growth, and acceptance.

My collection reimagines traditional tailoring through a gender-neutral lens. It merges precise construction with emotional storytelling, drawing on the idea of breaking apart and rebuilding as a metaphor for personal evolution. Influenced by Judith Butler’s theories of performative identity and designers such as Alexander McQueen and Harris Reed, the collection questions binaries while seeking harmony in duality. Through contrast and craftsmanship, An Ode to Self celebrates transformation and the quiet power of becoming one’s true self.

Photographer : Willow Coombs