From Manila to Manhattan: Chynna Mamawal Debuts at New York Fashion Week

Esteemed fashion designer Chynna Mamawal has showcasied Filipino talent on the global fashion stage once again with her official debut at New York Fashion Week last September 8. The Spring/Summer 2025 collection showcase represents “the culmination of years of dedication and hard work, highlighting her evolution as a designer and unwavering commitment to her craft.”

Known for her unique signature of fusing elegance, extravagance, and innovation, her creations have been worn by some of the most recognizable faces in the country. Some of her muses include Lovi Poe, Nadine Lustre, Pia Wurtzbach, Megan Young, and Coleen Garcia, to name a few. One of her muses, Fil-Am beauty queen and Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel, modeled her finale look for NYFW.

Chynna is no stranger to displaying her designs on the global scene. One of her most notable is her recent show at the Vancouver Fashion Week early last year. This showcase was praised by many international media outlets; it also served as one of her preparations for her debut at NYFW.

Chynna’s first appearance at one of the world’s most prestigious fashion events is a defining moment in her career that will no doubt bring Filipino pride. To wish her good luck and show their support, friends, family, clients, and media friends attended a bon voyage party at Out of Office a week before she flew to New York.

Metro.Style got to talk one-on-one with the designer about her thoughts and design process for New York Fashion Week. 

On her preparations for NYFW and representing the Philippines

Preparing for her NYFW debut was something Chynna really took seriously as it’s not lost on the designer how much this showcase means for her brand. “Actually, they’ve been inviting me for the longest time. It’s just that back then, I didn’t feel like I was ready. It’s New York fashion week! That’s crème de la crème so I want to be 1000% ready before I do it. Now, I’m very excited and very ready. I’m prepared. It’s the elevated version of Chynna Mamawal. I want to be known as the fashion designer from the Philippines who makes opulent dresses, suits, and red-carpet looks—a brand that’s unique, young, vibrant.”

She also admits she feels the weight of representing the country as a Filipino designer. She shares that she feels the pressure but welcomes it with open arms. “I feel all sorts of emotions. I feel excited, I feel pressured, and nervous all at the same time. But pressure has always been good for me. I love the responsibility. I work better when I’m pressured because that means I care about it.”

An inspired collection

As with her past collections, Chynna was heavily influenced by her travels. For this particular collection, she was inspired by her trip to St. Tropez. “Last year, when I went to St. Tropez, everyone was so stylish. Wherever they go, they’re so stylish and have different styles. They’re really opulent, even when they’re just going to cafés, very chic! I was there and I just said ‘wow!’ I really got inspired when I went to South France. All the more I wanted to make a collection.”

Of course, Chynna also incorporated elements that honored her Filipino roots. “For some of the pieces, it’s very floral so we did some florals that resemble the sampaguita. It’s a 20-piece collection: 15 females, 5 males. But after the runway, we also have a showroom where I showcase the modern barong and Filipiniana. It’s a more intimate setup so people can see them up close and I can really explain it.”

The future of the Chynna Mamawal brand and her dream muses

With her sights set on continued global expansion and shining a spotlight on the richness of Philippine fashion on a bigger stage, this showcase was not just a business move for the designer. “It’s both personal and business for me. Professionally, this debut marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Chynna Mamawal as a brand. It’s one of the reasons why I expanded to a larger atelier and scaled up our production capabilities. While we’ve built a strong reputation for creating gowns and suits, my goal now is to extend our reach globally. New York Fashion Week is a significant step toward positioning my brand on a global scale. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in our global expansion. I want to expand internationally and what better way to expand than showcasing in New York Fashion Week? But it’s also personal in the sense that I have been dreaming about this moment ever since I was a kid.”

As for her dream muse, she has several people in mind. “Anne Hathaway, the Olsen twins, Zendaya, Dua Lipa, I want to dress them all!”

Photos: Kenneth Gohel (NYC), Jayson Silva (NYC), Jorge Estrellado (NYC)

Video: Gabe Melegrito (Canada)

Stylist: Lady Maximo (NYC)

Assistant Stylist: John Edwards (LA)

Hair & Makeup: Alex Yarberr (NYC)