For this year&rsquo;s Manila Fashion Week, OXGN breathes new life into its creative direction through authenticity and intentionality.

PHOTOGRAPHY&nbsp;MAW Studios courtesy of Manila Fashion Week
In an era of ever-evolving style and culture, Manila&rsquo;s fashion scene finds itself in a moment of reinvention &mdash; where expression moves beyond fleeting trends to embrace the celebration of identity. At the forefront of this evolution is OXGN, entering this year&rsquo;s Manila Fashion Week with a renewed sense of purpose and a striking message: streetwear is not just a style, it&rsquo;s a movement.
&ldquo;We really want to stick to our roots, and that is streetwear,&rdquo; the brand shared in a statement. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re treating this showcase as our re-introduction &mdash; that even with so many streetwear brands today, we&rsquo;re still here and we&rsquo;re still strong. We&rsquo;re here to share and really bring forward not just the streetwear aesthetic but also the communities that build it.&rdquo;
That sentiment came to life on the runway in what felt like RTW remixed &mdash; elevated essentials fused with bold details and an unmistakable youthful energy. OXGN pushed the boundaries of ready-to-wear, crafting a lineup that was both accessible and aspirational for a new generation of trendsetters. There was a definitive sexy edge woven throughout the collection, a provocativeness that felt &ldquo;now&rdquo; and undeniably relevant.
Yet beneath the sharp cuts and confident silhouettes was a deeper message &mdash; one of unity and shared humanity. &ldquo;We want people to feel that no matter how different we are, no matter how our experiences differ, we all share something basic &mdash; our need to breathe, our need for oxygen,&rdquo; the brand explained. &ldquo;At the end of the day, we all share something together, and we should value that.&rdquo;
In a conversation with L&rsquo;Officiel Philippines, OXGN&rsquo;s creative leads &mdash; Allana Nicolas, Marc Olympia, Cathleen Cotioco and Efren Espiritu &mdash; opens up on their evolving creative process, the balance between artistry and commerce, and the power of intentional storytelling on shaping a brand.&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: center;">OXGN for Manila Fashion Week 2025</h3>

What inspired your collection? Was there a specific story or aesthetic you wanted to show?&nbsp;
Marc: I think what inspired our collection this year is knowing that the fashion market is possibly evolving. People are being introduced to a lot of trends. The market is being introduced to a lot of fabrics and silhouettes. This is our response to evolve and stay ahead while staying to who we are as a brand.
You talked about having new processes. Can you talk about those new techniques? How was the process of doing this collection?&nbsp;
Marc: Our new processes, I think, this time is we really thought of aligning everything &mdash; the story, who we're trying to communicate with. There's been a lot of back and forth to make sure that what we're selling is really what the brand represents and what our market really wants for themselves, you know, because our market appreciates self-expression. So, you know, there are a lot of trends and we can, I think, help them express themselves if we produce pieces that speak to whatever culture they're into, whatever hobbies they're into. So, it's a bit more intentional. The way we do things is more intentional &mdash; the colors, the fabrics, the pieces, everything is aligned.&nbsp;
Were there any challenges? Like, did you have a breakthrough during the process?&nbsp;
Allana: Every time we create collections, there will always be challenges, and I think one good thing that we did here is that instead of looking at it as a challenge, we're using it as a stepping stone to learn, to improve. I think that's what we're also going to be showing in our collection &mdash; a much more evolved OXGN.&nbsp;
Cathleen: I guess to add &mdash; I think, unlike the other presenters who are fashion designers, we are a commercial brand. So, for us, the challenge has always been how do we balance salability because what we're showcasing is our holiday collection, and in our industry, this is the most important season. So, [the question is] how do we ensure that we deliver the sales of our business and achieve our business goals, but at the same time, deliver something that is also new and exciting for our customers and for those who are into fashion and streetwear?
You mentioned being a commercial brand. So, how's the process of collaborating with DOST-PTRI, like with the fabrics? How was that collaboration?
Allana: I think [with] the fabric, we tried to incorporate it in our commercial pieces. It's not so hard. I think it's just similar to the likes of linen, denim. So, it wasn't so hard for us to create the design.
What do you hope for this collection to resonate with your market?&nbsp;
Marc: I'll just keep it short. What they're gonna see in this collection isn't something that they remember who OXGN is from years ago, from when they were in elementary or in high school. There are a lot of good and exciting pieces. So yeah, watch out for that.&nbsp;
The next question would be, how important is the Manila Fashion Week for local designers, for local brands here in the Philippines?
Cathleen: I think now there's really an influx of a lot of international brands coming in here. We always say that there's no reason to travel abroad anymore because all the brands that you want to shop from, the majority, are already available here. But I think a platform like Manila Fashion Week is a good place for us to be able to showcase Filipino talent and to show people that we are capable of producing the same &mdash; if not better &mdash; collections.&nbsp;
For the last question, what's your message to aspiring local designers or local brands?&nbsp;
Yanna: Be there. You're only as limited as your mind makes you to be. So, do what you love and show that to everyone.&nbsp;
Alfred: For me, they have to stay curious and keep experimenting and take inspiration from their community or from our community to stay relevant and on trend.

OXGN Redefines Cool with Intention at Manila Fashion Week 2025

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