What fashion designers hope to see in 2025
While ethical fashion has been making great strides in recent years, we still have a long way to go. In a world where cheap, fast fashion continues to rule, sustainable fashion asks us to slow down, consider the environmental impact of our choices, and support those whose efforts promote the welfare of the entire production community.
Which is why, for 2025, local designers’ most fervent wish is for people to embrace sustainability, as well as for Filipino fashion to thrive and receive the support it needs. This can only be achieved by working together as patrons, artists, designers, weavers, tailors, marketers, and even lawmakers.
In their own words:
Dennis Lustico
My most sincere and ardent wish for fashion is patriotism and stronger national identity. I wish for us to have a Filipiniana Friday (or FilFri) wherein all of us will be obliged to wear Philippine-inspired working outfits every Friday throughout the year. I’ve seen this in Luang Prabang and Chiang Mai and it’s just so beautiful and heartwarming. Our barong and Filipiniana tops aren’t so fussy, they’re perfect for everyday wear.
Puey Quiñones
In 2025, I hope to witness a transformation in Filipino fashion that showcases the growth of our weaving and design sectors. My aspiration is for these industries to become more competitive on the global stage.
Bon Hansen
I hope to see more collaboration and mutual respect within the industry, where designers are paid promptly and not overlooked or ignored during the billing process. Supporting each other in this way strengthens the entire creative community and fosters a healthier, more sustainable industry.
Hazel Roldan, founder of And Again Clothing
Locally, I wish to see sustainability efforts in fast fashion, specifically recycling efforts (recycling what they actually collect), and recycling their own textile waste (as this is easily commercialized and mass produced if the waste is uniform from their own collections), and an effort to design with zero waste patterns.
Happy Andrada
I hope to see lasting support for locally made products in the Philippines. I believe that patronizing Philippine-made items should not be just a fleeting fashion trend, but an ongoing advocacy and a way of life. By choosing local, Filipinos not only gain unique pieces that inspire pride in their heritage, but they also contribute to the growth of the Philippine economy and support the livelihoods of local artisans.
Bessie Besana
For 2025, I would love to see the return of classics silhouettes that are cut in contemporary styles.
Yssa Inumerable
I hope to see the younger generation embrace and celebrate our local styles, such as the casual terno, barong, and kimona, recognizing their cultural significance and timeless beauty. Let’s take pride in our heritage while fostering a deeper connection to our roots. Moreover, I encourage everyone to move away from fleeting microtrends and instead focus on cultivating personal style as a true expression of individuality and creativity.
Jor-El Espina
In 2025, I hope to see fashion that embraces sustainability without compromising artistry, designs that honor craftsmanship, celebrate individuality, and reflect cultural heritage. I envision a deeper connection between innovation and tradition, where Filipino culture, for example, continues to inspire global fashion with contemporary interpretations of our rich heritage.
Connie Macatuno
Originality and diversity.
Carla Zhiang
I wish to see the industry embrace sustainability, not just in educational efforts and campaigns, but also at the consumer level. This includes making sustainable fashion more affordable, accessible, and practical.
Tina Romack Lirag
What I would love to see in fashion in 2025 is a move to investment and purpose dressing. I am not one for trends or colors. What people are told is the latest fashion forecast for them is not my mantra. I believe in investment dressing—that is to say, make your investment be what suits you best. I believe in purposeful dressing. Find out what makes you look and feel good and stick to that. That is your purpose. That is your investment. If you look good, you feel good. It’s a process of trial and error rather than relying on what’s the newest fashion thrill.
Jaggy Glarino
I envision 2025 as the year local fashion continues to make waves—bold, experimental, sustainable, and deeply rooted in Filipino culture, yet undeniably forward-thinking and globally resonant.
Jo Rubio
I wish to see more Filipino brands being patronized by the Filipino market; more appreciation of Filipino fabrics and materials. I wish to see influencers and artists prioritize promoting Filipino brands. I wish that instead of wearing imported brands, they would prioritize promoting our own.
Jo Ann Bitagcol
I’m hopeful that all players, big or small, will participate and gain more wisdom on how to strengthen the idea of conscious fashion and sustainability.
Albert Andrada
I’d like to see more Filipinos supporting Filipino designers and products that would help uplift local communities and celebrate Filipino creativity. This can be done by supporting local fairs, exhibits, and bazaars showcasing Filipino talent; emphasizing the sustainability and craftsmanship of local products; sharing brands’ stories by using hashtags like #SupportLocal or #ProudlyFilipino; encouraging partnerships between designers and artisans across the country; integrating local textiles (piña, inabel, etc.) into modern fashion and décor; pushing for more government and private sector initiatives to help small businesses; and treating Filipino products as an investment in culture, quality, and heritage. By supporting Filipino-made products, we preserve tradition, boost the economy, and promote national pride.
Marlon Tuazon
I would love to see more traditional and locally made fabrics at the forefront of fashion not just in 2025 but in the years to come. More piña-infused designs that are wearable for streetwear among the youth, like a total renaissance but with a very contemporary twist.
Steve de Leon
Since 1972, my niche in the fashion world has been couture Filipiniana. I’m evolving as a fashion designer and heading toward becoming a visual artist using tapestry and artwear as my vehicle for creating soft fashion sculptures.
Dong Omaga-Diaz
In 2025, I’d like to see the comeback of clothes that are meant to make girls look beautiful. I’d like to see clothes that apply the right proportions. I’ve always believed that fashion should be an instrument to bring out the beauty of the wearer. In the past years, fashion has become rebellious for the sake of going forward, such that we’ve gone so much ahead, forgetting the very basic mission of fashion.
Gil Macaibay III
I foresee 2025 as a transformative year. Diverse and emerging trends will drive creativity and unfold contrasting styles, from blending Bottega Veneta’s soft power dressing, Valentino’s ‘80s revival, Chloe’s bohemian luxury to Balenciaga’s edgy apocalyptic styles. I also anticipate a pivotal year for the fashion industry, with increased national interest—since Philippine Fashion Week will be back in 2025—and global opportunities, leading to expanded showcases, exhibitions, and commercial success.
Odelon Simpao
For 2025, I’d like to see fashion used in more sustainable ways—recycling and upcycling clothes, using more organic and indigenous fabrics. In terms of looks and silhouettes, I’d like to see more new shapes and fabric manipulations.
Ditta Sandico
Coming from the sustainable side of fashion, my wish for 2025 is for more people to appreciate and embrace an alternative lifestyle. By doing so, we can work toward achieving a circular economy where local communities can thrive and grow within their respective regions.
Mark Bumgarner
I hope to see more Filipinos shine on the global fashion stage—whether as designers, influencers, makeup artists, stylists, or in other creative capacities. We are in an extraordinary time where the world values and celebrates diverse talents, creating an ideal moment for us to come together and seize these opportunities. With our rich heritage of creativity and skill, it is essential that we nurture, support, and promote both young and established talents in fashion and the arts for the world to recognize and admire. By taking these steps, we can solidify our position on the global scene and inspire the next generation of Filipino creatives.
Jessie Jiang, founder of Basically Borrowed
On the consumers’ side, I hope to see more openness toward circular fashion practices such as secondhand shopping, renting, clothing swaps, repairing, and upcycling. From brands and retailers, I hope to see more transparency instead of vague claims of sustainability. Personally, I also look forward to seeing technologies such as generative AI being used to improve our daily interactions with fashion—hopefully making it more fun and less wasteful to get dressed!