LIFE

A splash of culture and glamour

It is a bold celebration of Filipino culture and modern resort glamour. It infuses vibrant hues, intricate embellishments and heritage fabrics with sensual silhouettes —- creating swimwear and resort pieces that exude effortless elegance.

Luis Espiritu

The Philippines is a tropical country. The weather celebrates humidity and geographically equatorial temperatures that rise when the heat is on. Artefino Resort 2025 is all about diving into the season in chic, artisanal style. Where the concept of resort has caught the wave of the changing times, it has become modern and timelessly all year round.

Splashing this Summer 2025 in this festivity of artisanal crafts is Jor-el Espina Swim. NEW NOW NEXT got a chance to interview the designer of the moment on the swimwear line and what the soon to be hit pieces are all about. The limited-edition designer swimwear collection is soon to be ‘haute’ of the press.

Jor-el Espina with his models. This collection reimagines swimwear with a touch of tradition in modern sophistication.
Splashing this Summer 2025 in this festivity of artisanal crafts is Jor-el Espina Swim.
Jor-el Espina Swim brings contemporary Filipino elegance to resort wear featuring vibrant colors, intricate embellishments and heritage textiles like hablon from Iloilo.

(NNN): What is Jorel Espina Swim?

Jo-rel Espina (JE): Jor-el Espina Swim is an extension of Jor-el Espina brand, bringing contemporary Filipino elegance to resort wear featuring vibrant colors, intricate embellishments and heritage textiles like hablon from Iloilo. This collection reimagines swimwear with a touch of tradition in modern sophistication. It is designed for cultured, confident and stylish women who want to make a statement in a luxe tropical escape.

NNN: What’s the premiere collection all about?

JE: It is a bold celebration of Filipino culture and modern resort glamour. It infuses vibrant hues, intricate embellishments and heritage fabrics with sensual silhouettes —- creating swimwear and resort pieces that exude effortless elegance.

NNN What’s the inspiration behind the collection?

JE: The collection is inspired by the vibrant beauty of the tropics, the elegance of resort living and the rich heritage of Filipino craftmanship drawing from the sun-kissed shores, crystal clear waters and lush landscape of the Philippines. It reflects a Jor-el Espina woman — one who moves with grace, strength and undeniable style.

NNN: How many styles and colors do you have?

JE: There are eight distinct swimsuit styles in different colors and a variety of looks to address inclusivity and all body types — classics, bikini cut, haltered, scoop, tank, cross-neck, square and plunging. Jorel Espina Swim pops with a palette of refreshing tones such aqua, fuchsia, yellow, saffron, teal, nude, black, olive and ash. These haute essentials are sun-kissed ready for any pool or beach vacation.

NNN: What fabrics did you use for the swimwear and why?

JE: The swimwear is crafted by the luxe blend of Lycra and spandex. This ensures a flattering fit, superior stretch and all-day comfort. These high-quality fabrics offer support and durability to exposure to sun, salt water and chlorine making them perfect for swimming. For the resort wear I used handwoven hablon from Iloilo and Piña.

NNN: What makes Jorel Espina Swim different from other swimwear brands?

JE: Each piece is designed with intricate embellishments made from shells and stone and the use of bold colors that celebrate the confident and cultured woman. It is not just your typical swimwear but a fusion of art and craftmanship making every look chic from beach to resort lounge.