Proudrace Closes MNL Fashion Week 2026 with a Collection Built on Draping, Reconstruction and the First Filipino Fashion Collaboration with adidas

The label that started as Filipino streetwear closes the festival with couture-inspired  construction and a runway it describes as crazy, sexy, chic. Michele Dee walked as muse. 

TAGUIG CITY, PHILIPPINES — 06 September 2026 — Proudrace closed MNL Fashion Week  2026 at SMX Aura this evening with a collection built on draping, proportion and reconstruction,  pushing the label into couture-inspired construction techniques new to the studio. 

“My fascination with garment construction started long before I understood fashion,” the designer  said. “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.” 

The 9PM show closed a night that opened with HA.MÜ at 5PM, and closed the four-day festival.

EXTENDING THE LIFE OF A GARMENT 

“For this collection, I focused on extending the life of garments through draping, proportion, and  reconstruction,” the designer said. “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.” 

“This collection is deeply rooted in my interest in experimenting with existing garments and adding  extensions to it for extra draping or manipulating its proportions so it can be worn differently than  how it is supposed to be worn,” the designer said. “Odd pairings of prints and silhouettes are also  the driving force of this collection.” 

On the mood: “This season you can expect a crazy, sexy, chic with a bit of sense of humor in our  presentation.”

FROM STREETWEAR TO CRAFT 

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,” the designer said.

“Today, our identity is more defined and intentional,” they said. “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.” 

“As the brand moves forward we've also explored heritage techniques and the cultural cues from  growing up Filipino,” the designer said. “Our creative identity is stronger and the brand's language  of reconstruction and experimental proportions can be seen clearly in this collection.”

NEW TERRITORY 

“Experimentation is central to our process, and this season pushed us into unfamiliar territory,” the  designer said. “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.” 

A FIRST FOR FILIPINO FASHION 

Proudrace’s collaboration with adidas marked the first partnership between the sportswear brand  and a Filipino fashion label. “Our collaboration with adidas marked a milestone not just for  Proudrace but as the first Filipino fashion label to work with the brand,” the designer said. “It  reinforced that Filipino creativity belongs in the global conversation.” 

On what comes after legacy: “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.”

WHAT HE HOPES IT LEAVES BEHIND 

“I hope it encourages people to embrace individuality without hesitation,” the designer said.  “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,” he said. “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.” 

AT THE SHOW 

Muse for the Proudrace show: 

Michele Dee 

Seen at the Proudrace show: 

Mimiyuuuh · Charlie Fleming · BJ Pascual · Jolina Magdangal · Ba Tung · Cissylia · Helen Hiu ·  Linh Chau 

Thai actor Boss Chaikamon Sermsongwittaya is in Manila to attend MNL Fashion Week 2026,  joining the celebration of Filipino fashion and creativity across the festival’s four nights.

MNL Fashion Week 2026 concluded this evening at SMX Aura after four nights of runway