Carla Gem Buyo

Metro Exclusive: Yong Studio Looks to Nature—and What Happens When We Take It for Granted

Article (news)

<p>Nature has always been one of <strong>Yong Studio</strong>&rsquo;s greatest references. For <strong>MNL Fashion Week</strong>, that fascination takes a more thoughtful turn, beginning with the abundance of the natural world before gradually confronting what happens when it is taken for granted.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17884777557203.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17884777886628.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><p>The collection opens in celebration, with vibrant colors, animal prints, and nature-inspired patterns reflecting the colors, textures, and richness of the Earth. As the show progresses, those colors begin to fade, giving way to beiges, taupes, and dry earth tones inspired by El Ni&ntilde;o. It&rsquo;s a shift that speaks without needing to spell everything out: the more we take from nature, the less there is left to see.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17884777980195.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><p>The idea comes naturally to a designer who considers nature &ldquo;the greatest designer.&rdquo; Rather than simply copying what she sees, designer Yong Davalos reinterprets its colors, textures, and patterns through clothes designed to flatter the body and live beyond a single occasion.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178847787349910.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17884778998817.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><p>That philosophy extends to the way the designer works. Instead of starting with a sketch, she often starts with the fabric, particularly the deadstock materials she works with, allowing the material to suggest what it could become. &ldquo;I see potential in everything,&rdquo; she says.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17884779249026.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17884779342814.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><p>For Yong Studio, the collection isn&rsquo;t meant to preach. It leaves the runway with a question instead: what does our relationship with the Earth look like when we stop taking it for granted?</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788569228793James Reid MNL Fashion Week 2026.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"><span class="fr-inner">James Reid at MNL Fashion Week</span></span></span></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17884779419012.png" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"></div><div><br></div><div><em>Photographed by Pat Buenaobra</em></div><div><em>Creative Directed by Carla Buyo</em></div><div><em>Assisted by Sophia Ancheta and Zoe Althea Agnes</em></div><div><em>Written by Zoe Althea Agnes</em></div><div><em><br></em></div><div><em>Read more MNL Fashion Week stories on Metro.Style</em></div>

<p><i>From vibrant animal prints to the muted tones of El Niño, Yong Studio's collection for MNL Fashion Week traces the beauty of the natural world and its gradual disappearance.</i></p>

From vibrant animal prints to the muted tones of El Niño, Yong Studio's collection for MNL Fashion Week traces the beauty of the natural world and its gradual disappearance.

Metro Exclusive: Yong Studio Looks to Nature—and What Happens When We Take It for Granted

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

Fashion

Metro Exclusive: Yong Studio Looks to Nature—and What Happens When We Take It for Granted

Metro.Style

Published September 04, 2026 06:30 AM PHT

|

Updated September 05, 2026 08:47 AM PHT

Read More:

mnl fashion week

yong studio

filipino fashion designer

behind the scenes

runway

backstage

yong davalos

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription. If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.