These Filipino Designers Made their Mark in Milan
The Philippines’ first solo fashion exhibition at Fondazione Sozzani in Milan showcased eleven visionary Filipino designers, marking a pivotal moment for Philippine artistry on the international stage
Who are the Filipino designers who joined the country’s first solo fashion exhibition in Milan?
In time for Milan Fashion Week, the Philippines made history in Italy by mounting its first-ever solo exhibition at Fondazione Sozzani, featuring eleven of the country’s premier designers.
The three-day exhibit, which opened last September 23, was a showcase of artistry and ingenuity, with the pieces’ contemporary cuts and silhouettes flaunting weaves, patterns, and materials that tell the story of Philippine heritage. It served as the culminating event for FASHIONPhilippines Milan, an international mentorship and exhibition program of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), designed to showcase the ingenuity and global potential of Filipino fashion designers in the European market.
The roster included Joseph Bagasao for Bagasáo, who created workwear separates; Gabby Garcia for Tagpi, who used beading, cutouts, and patterns on menswear and womenswear pieces; and Christian Edward Dalogaog for Ched Studio, who used delicate embroidery and beading on natural fabrics. The full list may be accessed via this link.
In addition to the 15-piece collections presented by each designer, they also each introduced three new garments created using Filipino Innovation Textiles (FIT). These fabrics were made from sustainably sourced abaca, banana, pineapple, and bamboo fibers, developed under the expertise of the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI).
Milan fashion industry personalities attended the exhibit, such as Carlo Capasa, the President of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italian and organizer of Milan Fashion Week, and Carla Biffi, owner of Biffi Boutiques. Also present were 10 Corso Como founder Carla Sozzani, Fondazione Sozzani Creative Director and FASHIONPhilippines Milan mentor Sara Sozzani Maino, and Riccardo Grassi, owner of RG showroom and FASHIONPhilippines Milan mentor.
The designers’ participation in FASHIONPhilippines Milan involved spending months refining their creative visions for their respective collections under the mentorship of fashion and design experts from Manila. Then, upon arriving in Milan last September 22, they had one-on-one sessions with some of Italy’s most respected fashion authorities to learn more about navigating the global fashion scene.
To further promote the designers’ profiles and brands in the global market, the collections presented by the 11 designers for FASHIONPhilippines Milan will also have a dedicated setting in Manila FAME 2025. The Philippines’ premier international sourcing show for home, fashion, and lifestyle will be held on October 16 to 18 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.
FASHIONPhilippines Milan is a program that aims to showcase fresh Filipino talents in the global scene while providing them with firsthand learning opportunities under some of the most respected names in the Italian fashion industry. It is spearheaded by the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), and organized in collaboration with the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC), LIT Consultancy, Fondazione Sozzani, and DOST-PTRI.
FASHIONPhilippines is the Philippines’ banner in marketing local fashion enterprises internationally. With CITEM at the helm, the program has brought local brands to top international trade shows and exhibitions, including the Centrestage trade show in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific Textile Expo (APT Expo) in Singapore.
Adam Pereyra, Joseph Bagasao for Bagasáo, Theresa Nepomuceno for Calli, Jo Ann Bitagcol for Bitagcol, who reimagined Filipiñana classics in natural fabrics, Christian Edward Dalogaog for Ched Studio, Steffi Cua for Idyllic Summers, Jerome Lorico for Lorico, Renz Reyes, Gabby Garcia for Tagpi, and Vania Romoff.
– Image Marketing by Sara Maino
– Merchandising by Riccardo Grassi
– Fashion Collection by stylist, fashion editor, and Condé Nast consultant Riccardo Terzo
– How to Build Your Brand by fashion designer Niccolo Pasqualetti
– Audience Engagement by Silvia Bertocchi, Fondazione Sozzani’s Head of Cultural
Programs
– Building Visibility and Voice in the Global Fashion Landscape by fashion and digital
creator Ryle Tuvierra
– Strategy for Global Retail by Le Bon Marché-Paris curator Helena Boissonnas
– Building a Strong Collection: the Power of Merchandising and Pricing from the POV of a Multi-brand Store Buyer by fashion buyer Giulia Demitri
