Proudrace

From underground roots to a global language of Filipino fashion.

What happens when the instinct to take things apart becomes a way of understanding how to build something new?

For Proudrace, experimentation has always been at the core. Long before fashion became a practice, curiosity about how things were made shaped the designer's approach, from deconstructing fabric and paper to rebuilding them into something unexpected.

For Manila Fashion Week 2026, that instinct takes form through a collection centered on garment construction, reconstruction, and the life of clothing. Inspired by the natural movement of fabric, from curtain folds to incidental draping, the collection plays with proportion, unexpected prints, and familiar garments to create silhouettes that feel fluid yet sculptural.

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 fascination with garment construction started long before I understood fashion. As a child, I would deconstruct and rebuild objects—fabric, paper, even clay—driven by curiosity about how things are made and transformed. That instinct for experimentation still anchors my practice.

For this collection, I focused on extending the life of garments through draping, proportion, and reconstruction. I was drawn to how fabric naturally falls—curtain folds, incidental drapes, and everyday movement. These observations shaped fluid yet sculptural silhouettes. By combining unexpected prints, proportions, and familiar garments, we created pieces that challenge conventional dressing while remaining wearable.

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?

Proudrace began as a streetwear label rooted in Filipino underground culture. While that rebellious energy remains, our focus has expanded toward craftsmanship, heritage techniques, and everyday Filipino life.

Today, our identity is more defined and intentional. We draw from ordinary moments—local communities, family traditions, friendships, and shared cultural references. Instead of looking outward, we now look inward, translating lived experiences into a contemporary fashion language.

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?

I hope it encourages people to embrace individuality without hesitation. Personal style is one of the most direct forms of self-expression, and Filipino identity deserves to be seen with confidence on a global stage.

More importantly, I hope it reinforces pride in where we come from. Our roots and shared experiences are not limitations but foundations for innovation. The deeper we understand them, the stronger and more honest our creative voice becomes.

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.

Experimentation is central to our process, and this season pushed us into unfamiliar territory. We explored couture-inspired construction and draping techniques that were new to the studio.

The process involved constant trial and refinement but those challenges led to some of the collection’s most meaningful breakthroughs. It reaffirmed that growth happens when you step beyond what you already know and it’s a direction we’re excited to continue developing.

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?

Our collaboration with adidas marked a milestone not just for Proudrace but as the first Filipino fashion label to work with the brand. It reinforced that Filipino creativity belongs in the global conversation.

Rather than focusing on legacy, I think about possibility. If our journey helps even one young creative believe that a Filipino brand can exist globally without losing its identity, then that already means something. We hope to keep building international collaborations while staying rooted in our culture proving that authenticity can travel far beyond where it begins.