BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
The fast-rising fashion designer, who describes his pieces for streetwear brand .Archives as “future wear,” says that business, at least for now, takes a backseat to creativity and self-expression, as he gears towards launching his 22-piece “Phases/Faces” collection at Misibis Bay this coming weekend.
In anticipation of his biggest fashion show to date, fashion designer Ellis Co recently gave us an exclusive peek of his first Resort/Cruise collection for his high-fashion streetwear brand .Archives.
Ellis collaborated with the brand’s creative director Reika Mayani to produce the new collection, titled “Phases/Faces,” which consists of 22 looks — the first 21 of which will pay homage to people who have influenced their respective lives. Meanwhile, the last outfit will reflect Ellis and Reika’s perspectives and identities as young designers.
During a recent media presentation, Ellis teased journalists with two key ensembles from the highly anticipated collection. “The two looks are barely the tip of the iceberg,” Ellis says. “They are a far cry from ‘Memoirs of the Future,’ my first collection last year. A closer look will reveal that new ideas were added while still maintaining the DNA of .Archives.”
“We’re also incorporating lighter colors into this collection, such as shades of nude, beige and tan,” adds Reika.
Don’t be surprised if the clothes, at first glance, reminds you of a certain Hollywood blockbuster starring Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet. These pieces, according to Ellis and Reika, were inspired by the movie Dune in some ways.
But beyond the silver screen connection, what’s even more impressive is how Ellis and his team employed intricate cutting, experimented with layered fabrics, and further refined the signature lapel — the highlight from last year’s show — to give the new collection an even more distinct character. Sticking to neutrals, “Phases/Faces” will also introduce more whites to go with light and airy colors.
Ellis describes the pieces as a mixture of modern and experimental. “It’s a fresh take on familiar silhouettes, which we hope Gen Zs and Millennials would be able to relate to,” he says.
For his upcoming show at Misibis Bay, Ellis has tapped the creative genius of director Robby Carmona to help incorporate his vision for the show. “The best asset of the resort is the beach, which we all agreed to utilize,” Ellis shares. “Working with Direk Robby was a breeze. He was receptive when he listened to our ideas.”
To add local flavor to the event, Ellis enlisted Bicol-based models for his hometown show. Aside from the local talent, last year’s models will also walk for the grand showcase.
In terms of makeup, Ellis collaborated with makeup artist Violet Ocampo to create simple and natural tones that convey a luxurious resort look. The show’s closing look will be the only one to deviate from the rest of the collection.
“The show will be personal and an intimate showcase of looks,” Ellis says. “We did our best to inject and express our emotions in the garments, hoping to deliver a visceral impact to our audience.”
In the end though, it all boils down to the clothes. “Is this streetwear? Is this high fashion? Is it formal wear? These are the questions we’ve always asked ourselves ever since we started creating clothes,” says Ellis. “And to be honest, we’re still trying to interpret what future wear is. There’s really no defined language or defined explanation as to what future wear is. But it is definitely something that’s new!”
Keep your eyes peeled, everyone. The future of fashion is coming and it’s set to make waves over the weekend.
