Fashion

A Tale of Two Designs: The Aesthetics of Zero Waste

Jay Chadly Pulan’s Foliosa dress and footwear pieces, and Lyanna San Pedro’s Osiris earrings share their advocacy for zero waste fashion.

The creative mind is one that fabricates beautiful things out of the most meager resources. From recycled plastic, bottle caps and straws, to scraps of wood and acrylic pieces, University of the Philippines-Cebu’s third year Product Design students, Lyanna San Pedro and Jay Chadly Pulan, aim to give life to pieces we once neglected as trash.

Osiris

Since her win during the Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution stint for her collection of accessories, 20-year-old Lyanna San Pedro has ventured on the path of jewelry making. She recalls that in class, during the conceptualization of one of her designs, her goal was to always innovate materials and give it an aesthetic rebirth.

Lyanna San Pedro’s Osiris collection of earrings were created purely from scraps and trash the Fine Arts-Product Design student picked up.

Her earrings collection Osiris is made up of different pieces, unified by the essential ingredient of recycled materials. From Egyptian mythology, Osiris is the god of resurrection, transition and regenerations–which Lyanna believes encompasses the essence of her design.

The earrings collection made from scrap materials and 50% plastic is a rebirth of the tons and tons of scraps and trash she found in places she frequented. Machineries in her university also helped her make use of the scraps through the process of grinding and pressing for plastic, which then allowed her to play with different shapes and materials in her collection.

The rightmost pair is Lyanna’s personal favorite rom her collection, which is also her first ever prototype.

The spring and summer collection was inspired by Lyanna’s childhood memory of the local borloloy, a Tagalog slang for fashion accessories. These are colorful pieces of jewelry, such as bracelets, necklaces and earrings, that one would wear at church on Sundays or for special events.

Her favorite piece, though nameless, holds a special place in her heart as it is her first ever prototype. She also took the time to develop such a piece, adding one piece after another until she found the design complete. No wonder it had become her go-to accessory when she went out.

Lyanna finds her earrings collection unique, aside from her advocacy for a zero waste lifestyle, because she also takes pride in its creation. Her creative eye was put to the test in order to take in junk and transform them into a one-of-a-kind product. With bits and pieces of lace, buttons, worn out pearls, acrylic, scrap fabric and a dash of creativity, Lyanna gave birth to the Osiris collection through the the rebirth of what many had considered trash.

Foliosa

One look at the at 22-year-old Jay Chadly Pulan’s designs, and you wouldn’t think they were made straight out of recycled plastic bags of different shapes, sizes and colors. Giving in to her inner diva, she translated the styles of Lady Gaga and Beyonce into her trashion (trash + fashion) pieces.

Jay Chadly Pulan used heat to melt the color of the plastics she had collected, putting them all together into one sheet that she then used to cut out patterns.

The collection is named after the coral specie folios, as the composition depicts the abstract formation of ruffles and waves in corals. By fusing plastics through heat pressing and ironing, Jay collected at least two large bags containing varied types of plastic–bags, caps and straws, among others–and ironed it into a big sheet that she then formed patterns with. Jay went on to buy heels from a thrift shop, and experimented its form using scraps of wood to form the unique arched shape of the heels in the piece.

Jay sees her designs as a unique venture into sustainable and environmentally friendly trashion concept, as it resulted in an avant-garde piece. This is a unique take on clothing made from recycled materials, which usually focuses on the creation of ball gowns and ternos. The technique of using heat and fusing the colors to come off into an off-white color makes this Fine Arts student stand out.

The Foliosa shoes were created from a pair that Jay had bought at a thrift store, then experimented with using the plastics.

Calling out to budding artists in the local art scene of Cebu like her, Jay says that anyone can create a perfect design. What sets a good designer apart, however, is the advocacy they are supporting through their designs. In Jay’s case, she hopes for zero waste in the fashion industry.

Jay aims to add to her collection more fine, sustainable and environmentally friendly pieces in the coming months, and visualizes that the future of the fashion industry, and that of her projects, will venture into new technology that would develop motion on dresses.

The concept of fast fashion has come about in this generation, which has proved to leave polluting footprints. Some clothes literally just end up in landfills after they go out of style.

However, with efforts like this, the future of the local fashion scene looks promising. New ideas, like those of these art students, show that fashion doesn’t have to focus just on aesthetics. Instead, they also put heavy thought on how to reduce waste in the industry of fashion, without compromising their art.

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Fashion

Ravens, Runways, and Revelations: A Glimpse of Amato

by OJ HOFER | photo credit JOSEPH ONG | jewelry ROYAL GEM

Fashion had become as instinctive as breathing—so natural that one scarcely noticed it. Yet, after seasons adrift in sartorial limbo, the piercing peal of Birds of Prey by Amato Furne One jolted this archipelago’s fashion scene to attention. Amato’s spectacle soared beyond mundane couture, drawing me from the quiet of my atelier to the intoxicating front row at the reinvented Tops in Busay—from the low murmur of machines to the electrifying brouhaha of the style set.

: A lattice dress with an aureole, beautifully bedecked with Birds of Prey, opens the show.

: A winged bustier frames the face with bold curlicues.

: A fringe dress with a farthingale rustles mysteriously in the nocturnal stillness.

: A bell-shaped T’nalak dress, woven with vivid dreams, sways with mystery.

: A T’nalak ballgown, shrouded in black mesh, catches the moonlight like a whispered secret.

: An entrance-making tulle and T’nalak off-shoulder ensemble commands attention.

: A crystal-studded bodysuit paired with a vinyl trench coat burns with fierce intensity.

: A red lacewing butterfly emerges, shedding the remnants of a tattered cocoon.

: A fiery ensemble, cloaked in phantom glamour, leaves an unforgettable impression long after the wearer’s exit.

Amato is not merely a label; it is a visionary ideal stitched in silk and dreams, a symphony of artistry that transforms yarns, fibers, and fabric into fashion phantasmagoria. Under the deft hands of Furne One, Amato has adorned the world’s most fearless icons—Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez—women who, like his creations, embody style, strength, and spectacle. His couture is not merely worn; it takes flight, transforming the wearer into a mesmerizing apparition of fleeting beauty—a phenomenal vision that lingers long after the moment has passed.

But how does one conjure such fantastical transformations? To offer a glimpse into the mind of this visionary, we posed three playful questions:

Oj: If you were a bird, would you soar as a mighty raptor or scheme as a clever corvid?
Furne: I’d be a raven—sharp-witted, shrouded in mystery, and draped in the perfect shade of midnight. Its inky plumage matches my flair for dark romance; because even in shadows, I prefer a little drama.

Oj: What would be your most formidable power?
Furne: As a raven, I straddle the seen and unseen—transcendence is my superpower.

Oj: What bird would you absolutely refuse to be reborn as?
Furne: Never a turkey—too commercial, too festive, and far too likely to end up as Thanksgiving dinner.

Fashion

Lucky Colors of 2025: Harness the Energies of Emerald Green & Carmine Red for Success

Thom Browne Cropped tweed jacket

by Oj Hofer

With the Year of the Wood Snake underway, understanding the significance of lucky colors can help align us with its energetic flow. Rooted in Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, the year’s fortifying shades—emerald green and carmine red—offer mindfulness and good intention attracting luck, and fostering personal growth.

Emerald green, associated with the Wood element, symbolizes renewal, clarity, and inner peace. In the year of the wood snake, its dynamic energies will empower and inspire you, fostering growth, renewal and wise transformations. The hue is ideal for moments of self-reflection, study, or creativity. Wearing or incorporating this shade into your space enhances balance and mental focus.

Carmine red, linked to the Fire element, embodies passion, confidence, and vitality. This year, which according to the Bazi Four Pillars Chart, has a lack of metal, earth and fire elements, it will bring balance and the propitious energies. It’s perfect for professional meetings, decision-making, and moments requiring assertiveness as a splash of red can energize and embolden you throughout the day.

Stella Macartney vegan Leather tote

Stefano Ricci silk tie with paisley print

To fully harness their benefits, use these colors in a contemporary, mobile context; through clothing, jewelry, bags and accessories. Alternate between these two potent tints based on your needs. For example, wear green for calmness and clarity when you are going into stressful and mind challenging meetings or appointments. Choose red when you are going into places or situations where you need courage and motivation such as fashion galas, elite socials, prestige affairs, VIP gatherings and so forth.

Saint Laurent crepe de chine mules

Optionally, you can also choose to wear these colors inconspicuously in small details, such as a garnet or jade bracelet, or a ruby or emerald pendant and earrings set. Men can wear a burgundy or forest green tie or pocket square, or casual polo shirts with poppies or with botanical prints, or jade and garnet jewelry. Doing so can subtly align your energy with the year’s vibrational flow.

Jan Leslie emerald bracelet

Daily Mood Cuff Links with red tiger’s eye tubes

The use of colors is more than just aesthetic choices or preferential picks. Colors can serve as energetic tools, reminding you of your good intentions and keeping you mindful of you daily motions. Effecting an optimistic mental state in the wearer, they can effectively shield you from negativity while fostering prosperity and emotional balance. Thoughtfully incorporating them into your wardrobe and surroundings ensures that you move through 2025 with confidence and the right intentions.

Embracing emerald green for tranquility and carmine red for strength are intentional, mindful choices that have the power to transform your energy and shape your path forward. May you have the best of luck in navigating through Year of the Snake with harmony, energy, and the power to attract good fortune.

Events

The First NUSTAR BALL

Janine Taylor, June Alegrado, Jackie Lotzof, Frances Siao, Ina Ronquillo and Christine Pelaez

The NUSTAR Ballroom, a magnificent venue at the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu, sets the stage for last night’s first-ever NUSTAR Ball.

Black was the color of night at the Zee table.

Glamorous guests from Manila and Cebu converged at the NUSTAR Ballroom, an exquisite venue within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Cebu. The evening unfolded with a seated 5-course dinner. The opulent feast started with Beetroot Salmon Gravlax, adorned with caper berries, caviar, set with delicate edible flowers; and a main course of Compressed Pork Belly with Crackling Skin and Baby Scallops. Another highlight was the auction of coveted items like Dior and YSL handbags, a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and an exclusive 2-night stay in Nustar’s opulent 3-bedroom villa—complete with a private pool and a dedicated butler. The charity evening benefited the Cameleon Association, an NGO based in Iloilo City created in 1997 that developed a global approach to act on the causes and effects of sexual violence against children.