Mother of dragons

Noted Filipino fashion designer Josie Natori brings her fall-winter 2024 collection to the Philippines


Josie Natori continues her East-meets-West story with her Fall-Winter 2024 collection. First showcased in February in New York, the ready-to-wear line reflects the steady growth of the brand’s evolution, blending signature prints and timeless silhouettes. For this season, the noted Filipino fashion designer centers her creations on the beauty and charm of the dragon, which, according to her, has long been associated with the Natori brand.

“The dragon is one of the iconic images of Natori,” Josie says. “It is a symbol of strength, power, and spirit. When you think of Natori, you think of the dragon.”

The inspiration for the collection stems from the brand’s 1984 campaign, dubbed the Natori State of Mind. It aimed to show how lingerie could transcend bedrooms and closets to take center stage in ready-to-wear. Fast forward four decades, and the lingerie that started it all has come full circle as the base layer in a complete collection that dresses from the inside out, day to night.

“Today’s woman is confident as well as beautiful, achieving a symmetry between sensuality and discretion, between public perceptions and private realities,” the designer muses.

The Fall-Winter 2024 collection continues the initiative of building a core wardrobe, now with even more luxurious fabrics to layer into the mix. The collection has a universal appeal, offering a balance of versatile pieces suited to every climate. Fabrics include compact knit, double jersey, vegan luxe lambskin, faux mink, felt, wool, taffeta, crepe, and textured jacquard, with layering pieces made of jersey and silk charmeuse. Guipure laces and lace embroideries harken back to the original Natori collections, now with a wear-out sensibility.

Key silhouettes for the season include bomber jackets, blazers, ponchos, and other outerwear essentials, predominantly with an artisan flair. The prints serve as accents, grounded by artisanal jacquards and textures that are synonymous with Natori. Apart from the dragon prints, the collection features cut-out motifs, embroidery, and appliques inspired by Natori’s expansive archive, with scrolls and paisleys. Dresses range in length and silhouette, with a focus on fluted hemlines. Colors range from neutral taupe, espresso, grey, sage, and, of course, black, to bolder bottle greens and brick reds. The collection embodies the brand’s commitment to staying true to its roots—a culmination of practicality and magic for decades to come.

“Every print is original. That’s our signature,” Josie says. “Our prints are very distinct. People collect our prints.”

In addition to the ready-to-wear items, the Fall collection also spotlighted Josie’s newest accessories line, created in collaboration with designer Arnel Papa. Among the standout pieces are the Gold-Plated Brass Teardrop earrings and belt pendant, as well as jewelry made of buffalo horn and acacia wood.

To learn more about Natori’s fall-winter 2024 collection, visit @natori and @rustansph on Instagram.