For the graduating students of SoFA Design Institute, “Blanc” 2025 was more than a fashion show, it was a moment of arrival. Held last November 7, 2025, at Whitespace MNL, the “Blanc Graduation Show” brought together 19 designers from Design Studio 4 and Design Studio 8, each presenting six looks that reflected months, if not years of introspection, experimentation, and growth. The runway became a shared space where personal histories, emotional truths, and technical skill met, offering a glimpse into the next generation of Filipino design voices.

“Blanc,” which featured both SoFA’s two-year and degree students, this year, the collections leaned deeply into that idea. Among the Design Studio 4 designers was Yen Kyla, whose collection, Working Title, centered on embracing incompleteness.

“My collection was inspired by a journal entry where I described myself as having a ‘scanner personality’ or someone who constantly shifts interests, jumps between ideas, and rarely finishes things,” Yen told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “I want people to resonate with what it’s like to live in that constant motion, and to finally see beauty in the unfinished.” She added that the collection reflects “a journey from internal conflict toward genuine self-acceptance,” where fragmented ideas come together to form a whole.

On the other end of the program were the Design Studio 8 degree students, whose collections showcased a refined balance of concept and craftsmanship. For Hannah Ballesteros Tapawan, her collection A/Rid Of, also read as Arid, was shaped by personal loss.

“It was inspired by the art of living with grief,” she said. “It reflects my journey of moving forward after the loss of my grandmother.” Through her designs, Hannah sought to express “that grief can transform us, and that beauty can exist even in the most difficult seasons of life.”

Nature and personal history also played a key role in Venice Collera’s work. She described her pieces as deeply personal. “All my pieces have a part of me in them, it's sewn in their very creation, my identity like my pieces are vibrant and ever changing,” she said.

Meanwhile, for Janelle Hung, “Blanc” was an opportunity to honor family, heritage, and healing. Her collection, 一二三 (yi er san), traced her life as part of an immigrant family. “My graduation collection entitled 一二三 (English: 123) is a reflection of my life as the daughter and granddaughter of an immigrant family,” she explained. “Our story began in China and evolved across generations, shaping who we are today. Through this collection, I aim to offer a quiet form of healing, not just for myself, but to anyone who has ever struggled with belonging and the weight of generational trauma.”

Beyond the designers interviewed, “Blanc 2025” also featured collections from a diverse lineup of emerging creatives who brought their own perspectives to the runway. From Design Studio 4, the graduating designers included Ren Delgado with Umbra Mea, Summer Villaluz’s Deepcut, Joesua Daoang’s Under Tension, Kim Tan Sangil’s The Escapism of Elyse, Gab Landicho’s The Tortured White Dove, and Deni Garcia’s E·Qui·Lib·Ri·Um.

Representing Design Studio 8 were Sofie Cristobal’s Vertigo, Clarice Dela Cruz’s Pixelated Dreams, Royce Bautista’ Earthly Bodies, Kevin Dela Cruz’s Letter, Reese Capistrano’s Reflecta, RR N. Catalan’s Langga, Vianca Escalante’s Vertebrae, Emir Loresto’s M.E., and Angela Quiozon’s Kritika. Together, the 19 designers presented a wide-ranging dialogue on identity, vulnerability, resilience, and creative conviction.

Across the evening, “Blanc 2025” affirmed SoFA Design Institute’s role as a training ground for designers who are not only technically skilled, but deeply self-aware. As the final walk ended and applause filled Whitespace MNL, “Blanc” stood as a reminder that for these young designers, fashion is not simply about what we wear, but about the stories we choose to tell, and the futures they are now ready to shape.