Fashion

Jor-El Espina rings in 20 years of design with ‘Adaptation’

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5 months ago

August 5, 2024

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Jor-El Espina rings in 20 years of design with ‘Adaptation’

Designer Jor-El Espina celebrates his 20 years in fashion with a special preview of his next collection

Two decades in fashion design is quite an achievement, and for Jor-El Espina, it is something he takes to heart. Known for his contributions to the scope of modern Filipiniana dominating the local style landscape, Espina has honed his eye through the years. His latest endeavour, ‘Adaptation’, is the prelude to a series of small celebrations leading up to his main 20th anniversary show in 2025.

The show will coincide with the centenarian year of Art Deco, a movement that inspired design elements present in the ready-to-wear collection. “It is [essentially] a summary of the past 20 years of my career. [It is proof that] even though time has changed, I am still true to my aesthetic,” he comments.

The designer gave a sneak peek of what’s in store with a fashion presentation at Casa Buena, accompanied by a Filipino-themed luncheon. These pieces from ‘Adaptation’ will be showcased at this year’s ArteFino Festival, which the designer has been affiliated with since 2017.

The word ‘Adaptation’ is embedded into Espina’s identity as a designer. Despite his growth, he still remains faithful to his vision. Indeed, a longtime admirer of the designer could catch certain motifs in this collection that have been prevalent throughout his previous work. Local materials are vital to the overall ‘look,’ such as piña and Mother of pearl, as well as weaving techniques like banig. A collector of fabrics, he also incorporated deadstock and vintage materials, some acquired as far back as 12 years ago.

“Based in Iloilo, I was fortunate to have access to these beautiful fabrics and talented artisans. I advocated the use of local fabrics early in my career, even if they were not very popular at that time. I would sometimes ask artisans to create weaves for me and incorporate them into my designs,” he recalls.

Colours in this ready-to-wear collection take a more subdued approach, as Espina had opted for more earth-toned hues like browns, greys and muted greens than his usual creams and beiges. “This is a very current colour nowadays, but they’re still never worn out of style. As a designer, I’m drawn to classic looks, something that can be worn through times and passed on [at the same time.]”