
06/08/2025
🪡 Designing Through Grief: The Filipiniana Bolero Project That Tested My Patience & Passion 🪡
Earlier this year, I was tasked to design and produce over 70 Filipiniana bolero jackets. While it wasn’t our biggest project, it turned out to be one of the most emotionally charged and creatively challenging ones for me and my team.
At the time of the design presentation, we were still grieving my dad’s passing. But work didn’t stop. I laid down several fabric options—including the delicate beige Gasar—along with carefully curated tribal prints. I also presented different design approaches, hoping to strike that balance between elegance, modernity, and Filipino identity. Eventually, we aligned on a singed-waist bolero with modern mestiza sleeves, designed to flatter all body types—even curvier frames—and bring out a strong, graceful silhouette.
Throughout the process, we faced demanding feedback, and even sarcastic comments from some staff members who didn’t fully understand why I and their coordinating team agreed on this particular direction. And while that part was tough, we didn’t let it derail us. We focused on the goal—and in the end, we delivered the full project ahead of schedule.
This experience was a clear reminder: no matter how much effort you pour in, you can’t please everyone. But what matters most is staying true to your craft, your values, and finishing strong with integrity and grace.
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