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

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.]” 

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