Carla Gem Buyo

Backstage In MFW Day 1: Andrea Tetangco’s Cruise Essentials and Viktor’s Dystopian Blues

Article (news)

<p><strong>Manila Fashion Week</strong> kicked off in full force at SM Aura, setting the tone for a bold and deeply personal season of style. On its opening day, Andrea Tetangco and Viktor brought out impressive womenswear and menswear collections. From dystopian visions wrapped in denim and leather to ultra-feminine silhouettes crafted with local textiles, the runway pulsed with creativity rooted in both identity and innovation.</p><div><br/></div><p>In this Metro exclusive, read more about their collections and discover what it’s like backstage—where the real magic happens.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>Shape of Femininity with Andrea Tetangco</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760669165521Metro Watermark - Landscape.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>For 18 years, Andrea Tetangco has built a name in the fashion industry with a quiet yet determined force. For her first ever fashion show in Manila, Andrea brings a wealth of experience and a deeply personal journey into her first collection. With her debut at Manila Fashion Week, she&#x27;s marking a new chapter—one that merges global sensibilities with local heritage. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17606692939004.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Andrea didn&#x27;t set out to become a designer on her own. &quot;It&#x27;s actually my sister who told me that I can be a designer, so I tried it.&quot; she shares. &quot;And then eventually, I fell in love with it.&quot; That leap of faith led her into a career that spans nearly two decades, and has taken her from Manila to New York, where she presented her Spring/Summer collection last year with Filipinxt. Earlier this year, Andrea dabbled on ready-to-wear with a limited edition collection with Mosaic.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176066934138110.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>While past collections have explored her evolving design identity, this new body of work feels like a stronger declaration of who she is today. &quot;My collection now says so much about the Andrea Tetangco women. Mature, sophisticated, timeless,&quot; she explains. &quot;Still contemporary, but I played around more futuristic silhouettes. So I&#x27;m excited to showcase that part.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17606693796587.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Her cruise collection is a celebration of ultra-feminine silhouettes. An integral element in her collection is the Filipino fabric provided by DOST-PTRI—something Andrea hadn&#x27;t fully explored before. She describes it as similar to piña—soft yet textured, linen-like in its character. It became the foundation for pieces that are draped, with soft volume and tactile depth.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17606694160986.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Ultimately, Tetangco’s vision remains consistent: designing with a purpose that goes beyond style. “My vision will always be about women, and I believe by clothing and my designs, I can empower women.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><strong>The Not So Distant Future with Viktor</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176066992728515.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Known for their custom-fit jeans and rebellious take on everyday wear, Viktor—led by Ino Caluza and Will Mueco—is breaking out of its own mold. Through the years, Viktor has dressed the likes of Michelle Dee, Brent Manalo, Ralph de Leon, and River Joseph. Ino Caluza, who founded Viktor 23 years ago, reflects on the brand&#x27;s growth. &quot;Basically before, I&#x27;m just designing jeans, custom-fitted to our clients but now the brand&#x27;s evolved already,&quot; he says. &quot;We&#x27;re doing a lot of new stuff like jackets and skirts.&quot; Will Mueco, who&#x27;s been with Viktor for 15 years, adds, &quot;I&#x27;ve seen how it evolved and adapted globally. I&#x27;ve learned the ropes with him.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176067003023614.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>At Manila Fashion Week, the brand debuts &quot;Dystopian Blues,&quot; a collection inspired by the gritty, futuristic, aesthetic of Blade Runner. &quot;The mood of the show would be more bleaky but still fashion,&quot; they explain. &quot;Post-apocalyptic but still fashionable.&quot; It&#x27;s a visual narrative of a world ravaged by climate change, but where people continue to express themselves through style.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176067006113519.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>The collection is anchored on three materials—denim, leather, and wool—but reinterpreted through this dystopian lens. &quot;We created all the collection using these three fabrics,&quot; they say. Color-wise, it stays in a moody palette: blues, blacks, grays, with a controlled injection of red &quot;just to give a hint of color.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176067008879517.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>But one of the most striking shifts in this collection is the use of local Filipino fabrics. Collaborating with DOST-PTRI, the team experimented with a pina-polyester blend that mimics the look of denim while remaining light and wearable in tropical climates. &quot;It was a challenge actually,&quot; Ino admits. &quot;We&#x27;re known for using hard materials like denim and leather. So, when we got the chance to use this fabric, I was able to design jackets and pants by giving it more volume.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176067011721618.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>The collection also ventures into accessory innovation, made entirely from scraps. &quot;We&#x27;re using flowers from cut-offs,&quot; Will says. &quot;We infuse the denim with the leather and form it into different flowers. It&#x27;s manipulation of two materials to create an accessory.&quot; Ino continues, &quot;We&#x27;re reimagining the future—no more flowers. So we created our own from leftover fabric. It&#x27;s beautiful.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><p>With Blade Runner as a mood board, the show had a dark energy, moody visuals, and a Radiohead-heavy soundtrack that amplified the atmosphere. But behind the aesthetics is a deeper message. “Global warming is really happening now. But we still want to tell them that hey, we’re still gonna be fashionable even after that,” Ino says. “The future is bleak but fashionably, I think we will adapt.”</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Photographed by Kim Montes</em></div><div><em>Photographer&#x27;s Assistant: Victoria Baal</em></div><div><em>Produced and Creative Directed by Carla Buyo</em></div><div><em>Assisted by Ysabella Bautista</em></div><div><br/></div><p>Stay tuned on Metro.Style and @metromagph on Instagram for more moments during Manila Fashion Week.</p>

<p>In this Metro exclusive, read more about their collections and discover what it’s like backstage—where the real magic happens.</p>

In this Metro exclusive, read more about their collections and discover what it’s like backstage—where the real magic happens.

Backstage In MFW Day 1: Andrea Tetangco’s Cruise Essentials and Viktor’s Dystopian Blues

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Backstage In MFW Day 1: Andrea Tetangco’s Cruise Essentials and Viktor’s Dystopian Blues

Carla Buyo

Published Oct 17, 2025 11:00 AM PHT

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Updated Oct 17, 2025 11:35 AM PHT

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Andrea Tetangco

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