Andrea Tetangco explored the strength in softness with her latest collection at Manila Fashion Week, presenting a lineup that reimagines femininity for the modern Filipina.&nbsp;

PHOTOGRAPHY MAW Studios courtesy of Manila Fashion Week
In a show that stripped fashion down to its most essential elements, Andrea Tetangco&rsquo;s collection for the inaugural Manila Fashion Week was a study in contrasts &mdash; softness and strength, purity and power, glamour and groundedness. Presented simply against a stark black catwalk and under focused spotlights, the collection allowed the clothes to speak entirely for themselves.
&ldquo;Women have always been at the heart of my creative process,&rdquo; Andrea shared. &ldquo;Every piece I design is a love letter to them &mdash; a way of inspiring confidence, grace, and strength through clothing.&rdquo; That sentiment was woven into every look. Silhouettes were streamlined and modern, yet undeniably feminine. Each piece felt thoughtful; a balance of beauty and wearability that acknowledged the inner lives of the women they&rsquo;re meant for.
That grounding was key to the show&rsquo;s quiet power. The collection spoke to a modern Filipina who seeks comfort without sacrificing sophistication, who embraces softness as a form of strength. &ldquo;I hope the audience walks away feeling inspired,&rdquo; Andrea said. &ldquo;Reminded of the power of softness, and how femininity can be both delicate and strong.&rdquo;
Below, L'Officiel Philippines talks exclusively to the designer about her collection and why this first-ever Manila Fashion Week outing is special.
<h3 data-start="1363" data-end="1710" style="text-align: center;">Andrea Tetangco for Manila Fashion Week 2025</h3>

What inspired your collection? Was there a specific story or aesthetic you wanted to show?&nbsp;
My inspiration is all about women and will always be women. So, this is a collection that shows who Andrea Tetangco is today &mdash; empowered, yet sophisticated; daring but sweet. My creations will always be inspired by how I want women to feel. So, this is a mix of strong, powerful, and empowering, but the same way, it's still soft. It&rsquo;s still very women, still romantic. So, it's a combination of the beautiful contrast.&nbsp;
Were there any challenges or breakthroughs when you were doing the designs or the garments?&nbsp;
Actually, none because I really like the fabric, and I'm surprised because it's locally made. So, I liked it &mdash; I'm very impressed with how local fabrics are made here.&nbsp;
What do you hope the audience to get from your collection after this year?&nbsp;
I hope they will be inspired to dress up no matter what event or no event, what season, time. I mean, any part of your day. I think the clothes that I'm making now are to send a message to women to dress up because if you dress well, it empowers you. If you dress well, it makes you feel good. So, that's the message: clothing makes you feel good,
How important is the Manila Fashion Week for local designers as a platform?&nbsp;
This is a very important platform for aspiring and new designers. We have a lot of creative talents here in Manila, or specifically in the Philippines. It's just that I think the platform to showcase Filipino talent is not enough. So, I think having this platform again will help a lot of designers to get noticed and to bring their creations globally.
What is your message to aspiring young designers?&nbsp;
There are a lot, but never give up. It's not always a walk in the park, but you just have to pursue what you need to pursue in fashion. Sometimes, you have to do what you have to do, but you also have to make the decisions. [For] me, you can't just do you, but it's also, you know, business. That's my stance, like you also have to listen to your market, to your clients, your needs, as simple as the weather or climate in the Philippines. Fashion is more like understanding the people, their feelings, and their inspirations. So, it's not just about you. But yeah, I think being you is being authentic &mdash; authentic to yourself, to your brand. But also, you have to consider where you are because the people around you could give you inspiration to be the person you are.

Andrea Tetangco Showcases Feminine 'Soft Power' at Manila Fashion Week

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