Bautista's floaty, ethereal work turned heads at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde&rsquo;s SINULID 2024 graduation show.

Speak to Jeremy Bautista just once and you'll know he's a true free spirit. When asked what his pronouns are, he simply smiles. "You can address me as anything you please," Bautista replies serenely. "I'm not really particular about my pronouns."
That same fluidity seeps into his work. His graduation collection, titled Enthrall: An Emancipation of Soul, draws inspiration from the ethereal yet dangerous beauty of the jellyfish, making use of various textile manipulations such as heat application, pleating, and dyeing to create a physical manifestation of Bautista's recurring dreams.&nbsp;
"Enthrall takes my intuition and recurring visions of the jellyfish [and turns it into] a visual diary that consolidates my thoughts, ideas, and even repressed emotions," Bautista shares. Here, L'Officiel Philippines peeks into the mind of this blossoming young designer.

Let's talk about your graduation collection. What were your inspirations for it? Enthrall is a visual diary encapsulating my thoughts and experiences. Instead of relying on traditional writing, I chose to express these inner narratives visually, seizing the opportunity presented by my thesis. At the time of creation, my mind was consumed by constant dreams of jellyfish. This prompted a deeper exploration into the meaning of my dreams. Determined not to let these visions fade, I made them the central theme of the collection's visuals. Each look exudes an airy, flowy, ephemeral quality, akin to the sensation of floating in water, capturing the essence of my dream world.

Could you tell us more about your brand? How did it begin? What are your dreams for it? h._.waa is, as the tagline goes, for the self-indulgent. It&rsquo;s meant for those who are inclined to or simply appreciative of the arts. The brand is a direct reflection of who I am as a creative &mdash; raw, unfiltered, and experimental. I do not intend for it to be confined in a single concept, rather it&rsquo;s meant to exhibit my growth as I hone my craft &mdash; be it in the arts or design. The conception began when I was taking this subject on branding in college. I asked myself how I want to be perceived by people. I want them to be in awe; hence, [I chose to name by brand] h._.waa &mdash; an onomatopoeia to express excitement, admiration, even contempt.

How did you start in fashion? I had no exposure to fashion prior to my formal training in Benilde. However, my passion for the arts and creating from scratch has always been intrinsic to me. Initially, fashion simply meant dressing well, but it evolved significantly during my college years. My journey into the world of fashion commenced with modest roles, from modeling for friends' school projects to styling internships. It was in this environment that my affinity for fashion deepened, culminating in the debut of my capsule collection in SINULID: Beyond Boundaries.

What piqued your fascination with the techniques used in this collection? What made you decide to use them? When choosing the central theme for the collection's visuals, I delved into the intricate essence of the jellyfish: its texture, fluid underwater motions, and even how it might appear on land, out of its natural habitat. Translating these aspects, I took careful consideration while choosing fabrics, [favoring] lightness and opacity. How much color could a textile hold upon dyeing? Could a delicate material mimic a jellyfish's movement in water? I draped the fabric strategically to simulate the jellyfish's dance as it swims through the currents. My aim was to unveil a sentient, ephemeral beauty that transforms, leaving behind a mere memory of its original form to those who see it.

How has your time as a student in Benilde influenced your outlook on design and fashion? At Benilde, I honed the foundational skills of a designer &mdash; learning about fabrics, mastering production, establishing my brand, and navigating various aspects of the craft. During my tenure as a Benildean, I explored techniques previously unfamiliar to me, broadening my creative horizons. Each course emphasized thorough research into our concepts, ensuring we were attuned to fashion's trends, cultural nuances, and historical underpinnings. Collaborating with peers on projects enriched my learning journey. Through these partnerships, we exchanged techniques, insights, and identified areas for growth we hadn't previously recognized. Fashion encompasses multifaceted dimensions, with each designer propelled by unique motivations &mdash; be it sustainability, functionality, or activism. For me, fashion emerged as a canvas for artistic expression. My degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising illuminated the profound influence of fashion beyond mere garments or runway displays. It revealed fashion to me as a dynamic force, continuously shaping history, culture, and individual identities.

What's the future you envision for your brand? I'm currently working independently, like many young designers. As a recent graduate, I'm still in the process of realizing my dream of launching my brand. It's a common challenge for new designers in the Philippines, grappling with the uncertainties inherent in building a business. Finding a unique niche and breaking into the market with products that resonate with consumers can be quite challenging. Practicality is one aspect of it. Even for me, I consider if I&rsquo;m actually gonna use a product before purchasing it. Aesthetics just follow. Standing out in a market that&rsquo;s already saturated with designers and their distinct designs is important. This is especially true for those planning to produce a ready-to-wear line. We live in a society that prioritizes these aspects, something that&rsquo;s totally contrary to the way I design. My current creations are not made for everyday use. I create art. Navigating this market and trying to sell my own work without losing the essence of why I created my brand is something I need to address first. Presently, I'm in the preliminary stages of expanding my portfolio by releasing more looks stemming from my thesis collection. In terms of career development, I intend to engage in small-scale commissions, although I am also contemplating pursuing further education to enhance both my skills as a designer and in my art. I really love studying. I&rsquo;m open to any possibility, be it fashion or a totally different discipline; it not only broadens my perspective but also allows me to integrate newfound knowledge into my existing skill set.

What are your long-term influences? What are the things that have inspired you for years?
The people I connect with influence the way I create. I tend to explore in my own thoughts the relationships I&rsquo;ve built and lost in life. I get lost in romanticizing and start pondering all sorts of possibilities. I&rsquo;ll write these thoughts down and keep them until I find little reminders of them later in life, in the most mundane of things. Compelled by daydreams and nostalgia, I infuse my work with echoes of shared experiences, immortalizing them in my art. Much like a blank canvas, people can interpret it superficially or imbue it with personal significance, rendering it a mirror of their own journey.

What are your current influences? What's inspiring you right now?
Currently, my influences remain largely unchanged. However, my introspection now centers more on the realities of my relationships, steering my creative direction towards a grounded portrayal. This shift results in works that exude a tangible realism, distinct from the romantic and overly idealistic themes prevalent in my previous creations.

Meet Jeremy Bautista, the Young Designer Behind h._.waa

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