Lilah Roché

There is a particular kind of Filipino nostalgia found in the action films of the late 1960s through the early 1980s. Manila after dark. Sampaguita sellers outside churches. Tailored suits. Street loyalties. Crime, power, and survival. The larger-than-life characters played by icons like Fernando Poe Jr. and Rudy Fernandez became part of the cultural memory of generations of Filipinos.

For this designer, those films were more than cinema. They were part of growing up.

Watching her parents' favorite action movies, along with contemporary remakes such as Ang Probinsyano, Batang Quiapo, and Siklab, became an unexpected source of inspiration. At Manila Fashion Week 2026, she takes that familiar world and turns it on its head with Sampaguita Queenpin, a collection centered on a reimagined female version of the legendary Asiong Salonga.

Every collection begins with a story. What personal experience, emotion, or cultural reference became the starting point for the collection you're presenting at Manila Fashion Week?

My collection is titled Sampaguita Queenpin. It is inspired by late 60s to Early 80s Manila Noir Philippine Action Films. Ones that are starred by FPJ or Rudy Fernandez. For this, I am doing a reimagined female version of Asiong Salonga. So I would have this main character and her looks would evolve from being that sampaguita girl from the church to this powerful queenpin.

I chose this concept because of my parents. I grew up watching their favorite Action movies. Even the remakes now like Ang Probinsyano, Batang Quiapo and Sigabo. I watch it with them. So I thought, why not make a female version.

Your work contributes to the evolving narrative of Filipino fashion. How do you define your creative identity today, and how has it transformed since you first started designing?

My creative identity has greatly evolved ever since I started the brand in 2019. I used to be so maximalist. I've been doing the brand since my first year of college...and during those times, I am very adventurous in exploring my creative identity.  I went hard-core denim, harajuku, weave crafts, and many more creative gymnastics. Only about three years ago that I finally found my true aesthetic...and it is still evolving but now I know my core identity.

Fashion is more than clothing—it's a reflection of culture, community, and individuality. What conversation or feeling do you hope your collection sparks once it leaves the runway?

Female empowerment. My collection represents the strength and intellect of a woman just through a storyline. I am such an advocate for more women in tailoring (which is a male dominated field in our industry). Women are boxed as eye candies or a person who can just slap pieces of fabrics together...but women can be engineers and directors of clothes too.

Can you share a moment from the creation process that challenged or surprised you? Whether it was a material, silhouette, collaboration, or unexpected breakthrough, we'd love to hear the story behind it.

The entire process. I wasn't able to fully plan the looks. I just build as I go. Think about it, draft the pattern, and from there...I play around. I love how it turned out anyway. 

Looking beyond this season, what do you hope your work contributes to the future of Philippine fashion, and what legacy do you want your brand to leave for the next generation of creatives?

 The art of garment construction. I love showing the insides of the garment. I just don't sew. I put a careful consideration of what you won't see outside because the insides matter too. It is my art and I am the artist of it. So look inside my clothes and see my passion just from there.