The UP Diliman Clothing Technology Graduation Fashion Show is an annual culminating event that showcases the creative vision and technical expertise of the graduating BS Clothing Technology (BSCT) class. It marks the culmination of years of rigorous academic training and hands-on experience, as student-designers present their final collections to an audience of industry professionals, fashion enthusiasts, media, and members of the academe.
More than just a fashion show, the event serves as a platform for bold ideas and fresh fashion narratives—an avenue where personal expression and collective aspirations for the future of clothing converge. It also acts as a launchpad for young designers to begin their professional journeys, connect with potential mentors and employers, and contribute new perspectives to the evolving landscape of Philippine fashion.
This year, the show follows the theme “TAGPI-TAGPI,” a Filipino term meaning “patchwork” or “to patch together.” This concept reflects the diversity, individuality, and collaborative spirit that define this year’s graduating class. It symbolizes the intricate process of piecing together 15 unique creative visions into a unified, impactful narrative.
Tagpi-Tagpi: A UP DIliman Clothing Technology Graduation Fashion Show features a total of 15 designers that together create a budding group of individuals that aim to not only celebrate the conclusion of their academic journeys, but also the new life of their bright future to come.
JANA ANTONIO
Jana’s design language blends raw textures with structured forms, where streetwear meets the drama of classic silhouettes. She often uses denim and leather as the foundation of her work, selected for their durability and ability to translate strength into distinct silhouettes. She then pairs them with metal hardware to highlight the tension between textured materials and refined surfaces. For the graduation fashion show, her collection captures the paradox of power in sculptures, like a marble piece marked by veins that look like scars. This idea is expressed through deconstruction to show the link between strength and fragility. The collection suggests that real power comes from enduring imperfection, not hiding it.
DAPHNE BIANSHE ARAO
Daphne would describe her style as being chic and modern. She often incorporates her own style into the pieces that she designs, creating looks she would wear herself: sleeveless tops and mini skirts.
For Tagpi-Tagpi, she presents her collection that is a mix of everything she loves, with a touch of the artist Tyla’s vibe from her albums. She hopes to evoke a fun energy, with the audience feeling the same bubbly fantasy when it hits the runway.
SZCZERVY ANNE AVILA
Szczervy’s design language leans towards a feminine and sweet aesthetic, often incorporating pearls as a signature element. Although her approach to fashion reflects dainty, delicate inspirations, she always leaves room for spontaneous, playful concepts that bring a unique twist to her work. Her graduation collection’s fantasy is inspired by the “Red String Theory.”
In fulfilling this story, she takes inspiration from how the string of fate reflects the reality of love in humans. Each design tells a unique story about soulmates, reflecting the different realities of love and life: Some have already found theirs, some are still searching, and others have lost them. Some have chosen self-love, while others continue to hold on to someone they once believed was meant for them.
ALTHEA CLAIRE
Claire’s fashion approach has always been rooted in sustainability—minimizing waste and creating something new out of what would otherwise be discarded. She loves playing around with upcycling and exploring ways to utilize old clothes or waste fabrics. An ode to her sewing journey, her collection tells the story of her years in Clothing Technology, and the message that it’s never too late to start anew. She hints at using fabric scraps saved since she first started sewing, transforming what could have been thrown away into empowering womenswear pieces.
To her, It’s about new beginnings—showcasing sustainable techniques while reflecting the transformative years I’ve had. In a story where she's obviously the main character, she’s slowly making her dreams, her fantasy into her reality!
PAMELA DAVID
Pam describes her design language as deeply personal. The Pampanga native says she has always struggled with opening up and expressing her feelings. However, making clothes has allowed her to cope with that by giving her an opportunity to communicate her feelings—and herself in general—without having to say any words.
This Tagpi-Tagpi, Pam’s collection explores the many ways we experience memories – how we create them, how they fade, and of course, how we forget them. More specifically, she drew inspiration from childhood photos she found at home that were damaged by floods. Overall, this collection serves as a physical representation of her attempt to recover the memories linked to those photographs.
TRISHA DELA CRUZ
A fun fact Trisha prides herself on as a designer is that she doesn’t have a fixed design language. Whatever strikes her fancy during a certain project is what she’ll do. She understands that in the world, the only thing constant is change. For the show, her inspiration is the different types of marks on clothes, to conclude her journey in Clothing Technology. Marks that she experienced firsthand herself, amplified to walk on the runway in fully realized ensembles.
ANDY DOMANTAY
Hailing from Tarlac, Andy is ready to bring the gulis (lines), kule (color), and biye (life) of his hometown Gerona. On the topic of roots, he would describe his works as being grounded in heritage and culture. He also creates things that look good in motion. His works also feature different textures that reflect historical references whether it be implicitly or explicitly. At Tagpi-Tagpi, the fantasy is for clothes not just to be on the runway, but rather onstage. The pieces are meticulously made to withstand motion, excitement, and the adrenaline of a lively concert stage.
PIERRE EVIOTA
Pierre’s design language mixes delicateness with playfulness, usually reflected in soft, flowy silhouettes and lightweight, shiny materials. She finds that she loves using fabrics like organza, silk, satin, and mesh for their drape and glitter, adding to that elements of crochet, beads or rhinestones. There's a certain intricateness needed in using such fabrics and elements, but she always ends up loving how fantastical the designs look after everything.
For the graduation fashion show, her collection draws inspiration from the things she loved as a child, bringing them to life using what she loves as a designer. The aspects of Pierre’s world that she once found ethereal – she can now make into designs and things that are tangible. She also believes that it’s a fantasy come to life – only being able to dream of something as a child, and now being able to fulfill that dream in the things she creates.
REESE COLLINS LATONIO
Collins likes to believe that his approach to fashion is that it’s an extension of himself. As a trans person, he understands how important fashion is in romanticizing everyday life. It's an accessible medium for the layman to take charge of their own narrative, no matter how simple the message. That quality of his, of always having something to say, bleeds into the Tacloban City native’s design language—he prides himself on being storyteller first and a designer second. He peppers his designs with intentional details to paint a larger picture, with pieces are curated to reflect stories he wishes to highlight, in a medium that is intimate and personal to him.
For his Tagpi-Tagpi, the story he wishes to tell is of his journey of healing in the past year and letting the light in after a dark sky. He believes that his fantasy is about slowly being bathed and wrapped in sunlight, with sheer traces of the sun in his fabric choices. In sartorially narrating this ongoing time in his life, he wants to mix the square of rigidity and curves of flexibility. That amidst the unassuming exterior of pleats or added fullness, there is a burgeoning opportunity of life and the choice to enjoy it everyday.
LORD LAURENTE
Lord’s approach in fashion usually has a lot of juxtaposition involved, it's often very high contrast and graphic. He emphasizes that it's never really subtle. The Aklanon likes drawing inspiration from vintage utilitarian workwear motifs and pushing it to a place that's more conceptual, experimental, and slightly emotional. The fantasy of his graduation collection is mainly inspired by his culture and childhood through the Ati-atihan festival.
He takes a rather more emotional and abstract approach with it, drawing inspiration from not only the vibrant costumes, but also the music, the atmosphere, the chaos, and what cultural festivals mean for him personally. All he hopes is that this energy is captured and translated eloquently onto the runway.
RONNIE RENI
Ronnie describes her design language as being feminine and ethereal. Her approach to fashion is usually one that blends soft silhouettes and a sense of dreamlike storytelling. Her brand references timeless elegance and a touch of surreal fantasy. “To be here is the price of my rebellion.” With this, her graduation collection mirrors a journey of liberation, resilience and of freedom. Flowing silhouettes, and intricate textures are everything she promises to bring to this fashion show. This celebrates who she was, who she is, and who she will be.
TRIZIA PEARL REYES
When designing, Trizia gets a lot of inspiration from her personal experiences and womanhood. She also likes to experiment and explore with construction techniques and materials. For Tagpi-Tagpi, Trizia’s fantasy revolves around the people around her. Her graduation collection is an ode to those that have supported her in her academic journey of turning her quiet fantasies into bursting realities. It is a dedication towards intimate connections on the runway in designs that highlight her technical prowess.
RON ROXAS
As a student designer, Ron has always described their design language as something theatrical and heavily conceptual. They are fond of experimenting with various unconventional materials, innovative techniques, and out-of-the-box ideas, often mimicking familiar and mundane objects. Their approach to designing aims to deliver a message and tell a narrative, usually harkening from their own experiences as a queer person. Whenever the Calamba City native designs, it’s like they’re stepping into the shoes of a “younger, imaginative, and more uninhibited Ron” — viewing fashion as his own playing field of storytelling.
In fact, their graduation collection is a love letter to this young Ron and historicizes the ever-present queerness in their works. The fantasy of their collection references their fond childhood memories of dressing up using familiar Filipino household items while channeling their inner beauty queen as they model around their home. This collection aims to trace back where their love for the craft of fashion started, while paralleling it to their personal narratives dealing with faith, identity, sexuality, and freedom.
KENDO SIOCHI
Kendo finds beauty in looking for other ways of using things. Fashion taught him that just because something isn’t generally accepted, doesn't mean it’s wrong. If it makes you feel beautiful and yourself, wear it! And that mentality is reflected in anything that he does.
For Tagpi-Tagpi, the fantasy of Kendo’s collection is the shared dream of the LGBTQIA+ community. It shares the love stories that rise against oppression and discrimination. Stories that deserve to be sealed with an “I do.” Because true love leaves no one behind, it includes us all.
HIRO SUDO
Hiro’s design language has always been rooted in timeless elegance. He anchors his style in the belief that less is more. It’s a design language that highlights simplicity and celebrates craftsmanship. With an intentional approach to style, each design is created to move gracefully through time.
This graduation fashion show, Hiro’s fantasy is about everyday dressing, reimagined through the lens of timelessness with modern minimalism. Easy, intentional, and classic — his collection is an expression of effortless style that showcases the enduring beauty of simplicity.
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