From thread to impact: Jor-El Espina’s 20th year
As someone who finds meaning in how beauty can reflect care and community, I have a soft spot for artists and brands who use their platforms for something greater than visibility.
Whether it’s a pop-up that benefits artisans or a collaboration that uplifts a marginalized group, I pay attention to instances when fashion chooses to give back. There is something undeniably moving about creativity that does more than express, that contributes.
Fashion for a cause
This is exactly what designer Jor-El Espina is choosing to celebrate as he marks his 20th anniversary in fashion. Rather than simply stage a retrospective or commercial show, he’s using this milestone to spotlight the community.
His culminating showcase, “20 Design Anthologies,” will be unveiled at The Bahaghari Gala on Oct. 24, 2025 at the Grand Ballroom of Shangri-La The Fort. It’s a deeply personal collection presented in partnership with the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP) to benefit a cause close to his heart: the Rainbow Youth Academy, a mentorship and empowerment program for LGBTQIA+ youth.
When I attended a preview of the collection, I was immediately struck by the burst of color. There were playful shapes, diaphanous fabrics, and a kind of joy sewn into the very seams. Each piece evoked something whimsical and unafraid but unmistakably Filipino. Even in its fantasy, there was intention.
“This collection pushes the limits in terms of where I can take Filipiniana dressing,” Espina shares. “I consider this collection as my playground.”
But it’s a playground with purpose. The gala is more than a celebration of his legacy. It’s a fundraiser that ties fashion to education, visibility, and systemic support for queer Filipino youth. The Rainbow Youth Academy, led by PFIP, is designed to provide mentorship, scholarships, and leadership training for LGBTQIA+ students across the Philippines. It isn’t just about access. It’s about belonging. Programs like this help young people not only dream, but be equipped to thrive in environments that haven’t always made space for them.
“Creativity is not just about making clothes,” says Espina. “It’s also about creating spaces or experiences where stories, identities, and communities can be uplifted. My role as a Filipino designer is not just to create beautiful things. It is also to use my creativity as a tool for empowering others, championing representation, and sparking change.”
Honoring craft while pushing boundaries
In a landscape where many anniversary shows center solely on legacy or brand growth, Espina’s focus on community impact is refreshingly sincere. Even in his most maximalist moments, there is humility in his work. I saw this, not just in the designs themselves, but in the way he spoke about mentorship, particularly his recent collaboration with the Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion: Patis Tesoro.
“Working alongside an icon like Patis was both humbling and affirming,” he says. “She reminded me that legacy is not only about what we create. It’s also about what we pass on: skills, values, and vision.”
Tesoro’s influence is clear. Her own ethos of honoring craft, while pushing boundaries, mirrors Espina’s approach to this collection. He brings together embroidery, fringe, beadwork, and even corsetry in ways that feel celebratory rather than excessive. The result is a collection that pays homage to tradition while refusing to be boxed in by it.
“I am always guided by instinct and memory,” he explains. “The textures of piña, the geometry of callado embroidery, or the colors of fiestas—these are details that are inherently Filipino. But I reinterpret and reimagine them into new silhouettes and present new contexts that resonate globally.”
The garments, from what we’ve seen, are not just outfits. They declare visibility, honor heritage, and carry possibility.
