In a year filled with amazing creations from Filipino designers that saw a love for local grow ever bigger, we cap the last day of 2023 with the last of a series of designers with their key pieces for the year and beyond.

In January, the next batch will feature bag, followed by jewelry, in a list that showcases the topnotch visions of our established and up-and-coming crop of Filipino designers.

Here goes!

JOSEPH BAGASAO

Father Vest. "The pattern of this vest was derived from a man's coat. I edited it to give femininity to the structure. This piece is special because it is the first time that we have developed a fabric here in the Philippines with the help of creative definitions. This is a handwoven pineapple cotton fabric. I was very excited about this because we were able to create a fabric using our own fibers and working with Filipino weavers without compromising our design language," says the designer. BAGASAO is available at www.bagasao.com and Comme Ci at Powerplant Mall, Makati.

STEFFI CUA

T'boli Pina Vest. "We believe in hardworking, sustainable pieces for our wardrobes this 2024. The T'boli Pina Vest was created as an easy accessory, to be nonchalantly thrown on to add interest and embellish an otherwise plain outfit," says Cua of the brand Idyllic Summers. "The beadwork was handsewn by the artisans of the T'Boli tribe, using glass beads and mother-of-pearl shell sequins." The vest (P15,250) is available in PHx Station until 15 January or via pre-order at hello@idyllicsummers.com.

CHRISTIAN EDWARD DALOGAOG

Linen Barong Shirt. The new linen barong Tagalog shirt from Ched Studio features the Chinoiserie motif from the brand's Greatest Hits collection. Handcrafted silk embroideries on pure linen, color story inspired by porcelain vases, combining different shades of blues and embroidery textures to a picturesque effect. "We developed it for our Greatest Hits collection, reimagined with new colors and motifs," says Dalogaog. Available at Rustan's Makati and www.chedstudio.com.

JILL LAO

Maya Silk Top and Malaya Silk Skirt. This pair is made of dual layers of silk cocoon, painstakingly handwoven by La Herminia weavers in Aklan, then carefully dyed to achieve an organic tie-dye pattern.

"I made these breezy pieces as a fun and easy way to dress up any occasion, while honoring the craft of Filipino artisans in a modern silhouette. I designed them with minimal cutting and wastage to make the most out of this precious material. Creating them as separates also broaden their styling options, further lengthening the life of these wardrobe pieces," says Lao.

Available on jilllao.com/products/maya-circular-silk-top and https://jilllao.com/products/malaya-bias-silk-skirt or IG: @jill.lao.

KELVIN MORALES

Doodle Garden Modern Barong. A modern barong Tagalog in silk cocoon, manually hand-guided and embroidered, this piece was "inspired by the freedom of childhood memories, without limitations — just making things with imagination," says Morales. Discover more at IG: @kelvinmorales or www.kelvinmoralesph.com.

GABBY GARCIA

Linen Puff Sleeve with Linen Tiered Skirt. The La Paz Collection embodies timeless elegance with handwoven fabrics sourced from La Paz, Abra, intricately sewn into exquisite floral patterns. The artistry extends further with hand-guided mother-of-pearl cutouts from Cebu, adding a touch of opulence to each piece. This collection seamlessly weaves together traditional craftsmanship and modern aesthetics, celebrating the rich tapestry of Philippine culture. "I made this simply because I want to showcase contemporary everyday wear that is still rooted in Filipino culture," says Garcia.