From October 5 to 8, BYS will showcase local talent and creativity in The Filipino Palette: Same Same But Different, a week-long fashion show featuring local designers and the unwavering Filipino spirit.

Related: BYS Just Supercharged Fashion Week In The Philippines

Inspired by the multifaceted nature of a makeup palette, BYS Fashion Week 2023 is a testament to grounded adaptability and the Filipino spirit. A makeup palette is a tool that can be made up of different colors and finishes, and can yield a myriad of looks. In bringing together unique, individual products, a palette is able to be at its best—versatile, effective, and a medium for human creativity.

On October 5 to 8, BYS Fashion Week will channel the Filipino Palette as it embraces a distinct blend of individuality and commonality. As our history and our nation is rooted in diversity and often division, local artistry rooted in culture and identity is one thing we can come together to celebrate.

Filipino fashion has always been diverse, but often draws from our deep cultures and traditions. Our identity, itself a convergence of voices, cultures, and influences, is encapsulated in the creations of the designers and artists featured in the second year of BYS Fashion Week.

In this exploration of art, fashion, and beauty, and the common palette that binds us, this event seeks to answer the question: in this world of difference, what brings us together?

SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT

In highlighting local artists and artistry, The Filipino Palette: Same Same But Different emphasizes the strength of our collective identity and the possibilities of our creative spirit. As with anything in our culture, the Filipino Palette offers diverse perspectives and ways to carry our history and culture with every step forward.

BYS Fashion week is a tribute to BYS Philippines’ connection to its “diverse, discerning” Filipino audience. It’s a space to “celebrate the beauty of our differences, the strength of our shared identity, and the endless possibilities that arise when we come together as a community of creatives,” says Angie Goyena, president of iFace, Inc., the distributor of Australian brand BYS Cosmetics in the Philippines.

Same Same But Different, a statement of contrast and juxtaposition, signals a confluence of differences that marks the Philippine landscape and captures the essence of Filipino identity—an essence that local artisans used to breathe life to their creations.

INTRICATELY-WOVEN NARRATIVES

All week, Filipino designers will showcase how they’ve woven together narratives of tradition and innovation, heritage and modernity, with their unique interpretations of fashion and beauty. From ready-to-wear pieces to extravagant collections, contemporary edge to enchanting whimsy, there’s something for everyone on this runway.

The four-day affair will open with bold designs from Ha.mu, Antonina, Rafa Worldwide, and Randolf Clothing on Day 1. On Day 2, designers Neric Beltran and Chris Nick will bring their innovative fashions to the runway. Then, the stage is set for visionaries Vin Orias and Cheetah Rivera on Day 3. Finally, Vania Romoff will close the show with her timeless, feminine pieces on Day 4. Models will walk down the runway wearing these designers’ creations and in beauty looks orchestrated by makeup artist Gery Penaso.

As contemporary art and fashion move toward highlighting identity and the freedom to express who you are through clothing as well as to create art however you see fit, BYS Fashion Week’s message rings loud and clear: be yourself.

Stay tuned to BYS Fashion Week 2023 on Instagram, and follow BYS Cosmetics on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Tiktok.

Continue Reading: Beauty Spotlight: Hair and Makeup From BYS Fashion Week 2022

Young environmentalists and activists brought art and politics to the runway as they held a fashion show highlighting calls for climate justice, social justice, and the end of fossil fuels. Read all about Fashion Against Fascism and Fossil Fuels 2023 below!

Related: 3 Local Sustainable Fashion Brands Founded by Young Women

When we think of fashion shows, we often think of cosmopolitan elegance, glittering sophistication, and high-speed, high-intensity glamour. We think of extravaganzas, publicity stunts à la America’s Next Top Model challenges, Victoria’s Secret Angel wings, or questionable avant garde fashions. Fashion shows are often criticized for catering to the privileged, negatively affecting body image, or being wasteful and pointless.

And while critical discourse on the current state of fashion is much needed, what is woven through the very essence of fashion is the human desire to communicate through art. Given its deep roots in human and social experience, art and fashion are inherently political. As such, in fashion there is space for creativity, artistry, and expression. It is an avenue by which humanity can speak out, influence, criticize, and amplify calls for justice.

Fashion Against Fascism and Fossil Fuels is an annual fashion show hosted by the Youth Advocates For Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), a nationwide alliance of youth organizations and individuals fighting for climate justice. This year’s show was held on September 15 and had the theme Empire of the Son: Drought & Deluge, an effort to highlight the calls of those impacted the most by systemic issues and shed light on how the current system has failed to address environmental and human rights concerns in the Philippines.

DROUGHT & DELUGE

Photo courtesy of Angela Kyla/AGHAM National

The fashion show was divided into two sections: Part 1 – Drought, and Part 2 – Deluge. Drought focused on the environmental issues that plague the nation, featuring themes surrounding reclamation, El Nino, and environmental plunder.

Deluge focused on socio-political injustices experienced by Filipinos, such as disinformation, the mental health epidemic, and impunity.

The show featured pieces from Filipino brands Himaya, For Elimari, Pinsel, Regina Villanueva, Season Pass, Worn Expressions; partner designers Alaga, bice crafts, Joanna Rizza David, Santi Obcena, Cha Reyes, and XCA; and shirt designs by artists Bry Barrios, Kill Joy, Rusty Flores, Tokwa Peñaflorida, and The Sinner Collective. Instead of focusing on singular designs and designers like regular fashion shows, FAFFF put pieces together to represent each theme.

Photo courtesy of Angela Kyla/AGHAM National

For instance, outerwear pieces in the finale—jackets with the backs cut out to make elaborate “windows”—represented shields as they are worn over shirts featuring environmental and human rights defenders. The outfits showcased designs by Joanna Rizza David, Season Pass, and Worn Expressions.

All pieces were ready-to-wear designs by Filipino designers from different sectors, and styles varied, ranging from casual-wear to more extravagant Filipiniana-inspired ternos. Each outfit conveyed strong messages of resistance, unwavering pride in identity, and rootedness in environment and humanity.

ACTIVISM AND ADVOCACY IN ART

Photo courtesy of 350 Pilipinas

Fashion has long been a medium not just for creative expression, but also political expression. From using fabric and weaving techniques by indigenous peoples facing threats of violence and displacement, to having people from marginalized sectors model the clothing, FAFF 2023 brought together art and fashion in a show of solidarity and resistance.

Models walked barefoot, slow and solemn, every aspect of their presentation from makeup to demeanor indicating the gravity of why this fashion show was happening. The final walk saw all the models come out with signs and placards calling for action to address environmental and human rights issues and calling attention to their inherent interconnectedness.

Photo courtesy of Angela Kyla/AGHAM National

Sustainability, for instance, is not just an environmental issue. Sustainability involves not just an ethical and environmentally-conscious acquisition of material, but also an ethical process of creation and consumption. FAFFF and YACAP endeavored to foster a collective understanding of such interconnectedness, and build solidarity founded on a desire for change.

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Photo courtesy of 350 Pilipinas

There’s no doubt that the youth is passionate and steadfast in their participation to combat environmental and social injustice.

Upon entering Studio 72, I heard an usher remark to another, “Mukhang mapupuno, noh?” It hit me at that moment how many people gathered to watch the show—whether they were merely fashion enthusiasts or activists or both.

The line to enter was long, winding around twice in the parking lot, and the seats were full. Students, designers, artists, and advocates of all ages were decked out in the encouraged black attire, marveling at the clothing, internalizing the messages, and reflecting on what the entire night truly meant.

YACAP itself is a youth-led organization, the Philippine chapter of Fridays For Future. A global movement sparked by young environmental activist Greta Thunberg, Fridays For Future helms the Global Climate Strike, in which students joining the movement across the globe skip Friday classes to strike and protest for swift action against the worsening climate crisis.

Fashion Against Fascism and Fossil Fuels is part of the Global Climate Strike, which, according to YACAP, “registers [a] call for immediate climate action.” The call to end fossil fuels is a priority of the movement, as fossil fuels cause environmental damage and the industry is said to hinder actions to address the climate crisis.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by YACAP – Fridays for Future PH (@yacaphilippines)

As the youth and marginalized sectors are growing more aware—and more discontent—at the lack of action to address the climate crisis, they emphasize the need to “come together and put pressure on national and international bodies to address the crisis by putting an end to fossil fuels, and spearheading a transition to a more just, more sustainable future.”

In using art, performance, and fashion as a medium, Fashion Against Fascism and Fossil Fuels illuminated the intersectionality of environmental, social, and political issues and amplified the call to put an end to fossil fuels and injustice fast, fair, and forever.

Continue Reading: For a Better Future: Filipina Climate Advocate Ann Dumaliang Champions Conservationist Cause at COP27

Here’s a rundown of just some of the unique components that were seen during Ellis Co’s fashion presentation that went beyond the traditional runway

Social media has become a major contributor to the swift virality of anything and everything. Trends boom from left and right, and sometimes, we can’t even keep up with the pace of it all. Because these trends can be spotted wherever we go, the ability to insert our own personality in what we do or wear becomes a bit of a struggle, making it quite difficult to stand out. However, Ellis Co proves there’s always space to break oneself from the common things in life with the launch of ARCHIVES, his very own clothing line, and the fashion show produced by AMRG that came with it.

Memoirs of the Future

When he launched his collection dubbed “Memoirs of the Future” last July, Ellis Co undoubtedly made a name for himself already. The fashion presentation was composed of seemingly peculiar elements that ended up being the right fit to achieve his vision of transporting guests into the future of fashion.

The show began with the Manila String Machine performing “The Four Seasons, Concerto No. 2, ‘Summer’ III. Presto” before playing melodies that accompanied the contemporary beats of the music produced by Ellis. It’s not everyday we come across a fashion show where a piece as classic as Vivaldi’s gets played for a strong opening, let alone other tunes created by the fashion designer himself.

Expect the unexpected

As the models began strutting one by one, Ellis Co’s debut collection stunned everyone in attendance. With a total of 44 looks, the show was divided into different segments that started with a round of all black. What was unique about these pieces was that it showcased the designer’s personal take on unconventional proportions with outerwear that was reimagined into oversized pieces with obi belts and curved lapels, which is considered to be his signature touch. This segment was then followed by a stream of white garments before capping it off with Ellis’ play on neutrals and fall dressing that presented his exploration of structure and silhouettes. But what was probably the most eye-catching accent of the night was the unusual addition of boxing gloves and head gears in some of the outfits—a representation of his background in the sport.

A dystopian future in the present

It wasn’t just the clothes that made the show what it was. To accompany each look that appeared on the runway, the overall production was an art piece in itself. The event held at Whitespace Manila became a scene from a dystopian film as it was filled with grey angular structures that were complemented with a touch of nature through plants scattered across the room. Talk about two ends of the spectrum meeting in the middle.

Down to the last detail of Memoirs of the Future, Ellis Co was able to prove that it’s still very much possible for us to break free from the familiar.

For more information about Ellis Co and his debut collection, follow ARCHIVES on Instagram.