Modern Filipiniana made fresh and fun by Happy Andrada
A music festival is a curious place to launch a fashion collection, but as the eclectic percussions and enchanting vocals from Pinoy power world music band Anima Tierra echoed through the auditorium at the BGC Arts Center, Happy Andrada’s collection similarly embodied the beauty and energy of modern Filipiniana and looked right at home.
The Pinoy Playlist Music Festival (PPMF) is an annual event that celebrates Filipino musical artistry curated by the National Artist for Music maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Moy Ortiz, Noel Ferrer, and Maribel Garcia. While they’ve consistently championed and celebrated original Filipino music across genres and generations, this was the first time in their seven years of existence to feature someone who expresses her art, culture, and Pinoy pride in the form of fashion.
“Happy Andrada is the very first featured fashion artist in the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival,” revealed Moy Ortiz, one of the curators of the PPMF, as he opened the show. “We are fusing Filipino music with original, exciting Filipino fashion design.”
Just like music, fashion can be dynamic, evocative, and powerful, and the PPMF was ecstatic to pair Anima Tierra’s soul-stirring, pulsating music with Andrada’s works.
“This event celebrates the best of Filipino culture,” echoed Andrada. “It’s a privilege to share my vision of modern Filipiniana with such a passionate audience.”
In a time when local fashion seems to be ubiquitous, Happy manages to reimagine the iconic Filipiniana style for today and make the familiar silhouettes fresh again, thanks to her mastery and playfulness in detailing and fabric.
A household name in Philippine fashion, she became well-known, especially in the early aughts for combining whimsy and edge into her fashion-forward creations, and eventually for her distinct bridal style. One of her signatures is infusing Filipino culture and craftsmanship into her designs, especially with her thoughtful choice and use of materials.
Years before the Artefino and Katutubo Pop-Up Markets put local textiles into regular rotation, Happy was already reworking barongs into modern iterations and infusing the complex and vibrant colors of indigenous fabrics in her collections. Even before Vogue Philippines put legendary tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od on their cover and made international headlines, Happy had already designed an entire line inspired by her.
For her newest collection, she shows no signs of fatigue as her pride in Filipino fabrics and craftsmanship shines as brightly. Paying tribute to the diverse regions of the Philippines, Happy worked with and showcased a wide range of fabrics like t’nalak, piña silk, knotted piña, inaul, abel iloco, yakan, jusi, and piña callado in 32 looks.
She kicked off her show with a range of stunning piña-on-piña ensembles for both men and women, which surprisingly feel revolutionary, refreshing, and chic. Instead of relying on the fabric to evoke locality, she manipulated the traditional barong material in inventive and impressive ways. Bibs, terno tops, vests, and bomber jackets boasted unique ruching and folds, creating texture and dimension. Often, these were worn over traditional barongs, literally adding a layer of detail and making the overall look more interesting.
Even then, Andrada was not content. She layered several of these pieces together, creating surprising and dynamic combinations. It is her enthusiastic yet thoughtful mixing of layers and materials that made the looks stand out, keeping the silhouettes looking modern and very 2024. Notable were high-waisted, wide-legged pants for men in local fabrics, sticking to neutral colors that kept the look subtle, yet surprising upon closer look.
The most interesting ones were her takes on casual Filipiniana chic: a barong with A-line Bermuda shorts and loafers for men; and a laidback three-piece suit of different textures, matched with turn-up satin pants for women. Andrada herself was in an oversized barong with voluminous sleeves, as well as a multi-layered handkerchief skirt.
But what is Filipiniana without color? After a strong showing of beige and natural ensembles, Happy eventually unveiled the vibrancy and joy of color. One of the highlights was her showcase piece called “The West Philippine Sea,” featured in the Fashion Art Biennale in Seoul, Korea last September. Made with piña silk, piña cocoon, and jusi, the dreamy dress was inspired by the wild waves of our local sea, brilliant azure and white waves carefully sculpted into a modern terno.
Happy also created voluminous, structured outerwear in mixed colorful local fabrics, all topped over skirts of different lengths, re-imagining office wear and dinner party looks. Upon a closer look, you can see how the inner pieces mirrored the tattooed imagery and intricate adornment of indigenous tribe women. One can imagine these pieces paired under formal blazers or solid jackets to add a quiet flair under more traditional garb.
That remains the enduring impact of Happy Andrada’s work. While she preserves Filipino artistry and pushes the boundaries of contemporary fashion, all of them remain infinitely wearable for today’s global runways and streets. As her latest collection continues to prove, modern Filipiniana is never boring and static, but fresh, fun, fashionable—and Happy.
