Jessan Macatangay is from Batangas, in the Philippines. He has worked for Marc Jacobs as a runway design intern and on womenswear at JW Anderson. ‘My collection is about finding beauty and power in a struggle.’ Inspired by couturier Madame Grès, Melanie Bonajo’s photographs and the paintings of Filipino artist Benedicto Cabrera, Macatangay’s collection is both stylish and surreal. Comprised of sculptural shapes, primarily made from reclaimed chairs, which envelop the body, forged in an array of matte and chrome finishes; contrasted by swathes of pleated lycra and jersey. ‘In lockdown I had to change a lot of my design process. My fabric supplier abruptly closed, I had to dye and print my fabrics myself. I had no access to workshops either, so I worked with scrap materials, put together using tools I bought online.’ In the future he’s planning on doing an MA in womenswear at Central Saint Martins, and eventually starting his own brand.
Honor Cooper Hedges, BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism
@honorrosalynd
