It takes a steady heartbeat to swim and find meaning in the currents of grief and loss, so Sandro Dela Peñ channels a whale in his work—the mammal with the biggest beating heart
Currents of grief envelop Sandro Dela Peña’s “The Walk,” but instead of wallowing in stagnancy, he lets his work throb big beats and swim in deep waters. His inspiration flows from the whale. “The visual narrative is rooted from the 2022 movie, the actual animal, and its heart,” the MEGA Young Designer 2024 finalist explains. “It’s getting something from what ended. You move on. But then as you move on, there’s still pain. So, you get the pain out of something that ended.”
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Seeing grief as a part of the circle of life, the collection is a walking exhibition of earth’s colors in green and blue with shades of grey. Metallic textures, gartered hems, netted draping, and fringe–these elements capture Sandro’s familiarity with garment construction and layering, an eye for originality and skill of one’s own decision to hone his craft. He rests his design in capturing growth and evolution, natures of life known to men and always reinterpreted in many ways.
An olive green gown with tubular accents concludes “The Walk.” The piece mimics the heart’s venae cavae. Communicating the nature of life to his audience from his first to his final design, Sandro Dela Peña affirms that his journey as a designer comes in waves—at times crashing to the shore, withdrawing; but always comes back in a steady rhythm, like a beating heart.
Photography JHARWIN CASTANEDA. Creative Direction BRIE VENTURA. Sittings Editor MIA CASTRO
Runway Photography by ED SIMON of KLIQ INC.
Official fashion fund and grand prize partner SECURITY BANK
Co-presented by BYS PHILIPPINES
Special thanks to AYALA MALLS, LILY AND MATILDA, and HILLTOP BY EVERYDAY COFFEE ROASTERS
