While other brands team-up with one featured designer per collection, Plains & Prints makes a much-more grandiose case for collaborations.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary dubbed as “Beyond 25,” the local fast-fashion brand collaborates with 15 notable artists in the Philippine fashion industry. Thirteen of them are the country’s top fashion designers and two are the most talented lensmen. This only makes it as Plains & Prints’ biggest designer collaborations ever.
Twenty-five years of being in the industry is no joke. It’s never easy to thrive and succeed in a cut-throat industry. In fact, Plains & Prints’ journey all started with a simple dream. In 1994, Plains & Prints co-founder Roxanne Farillas only wanted to make timeless, elegant style accessible to Filipinas.
Her brand’s humble beginning began in a small Greenhills store, where she sold simple tops and blouses. Then years later, Roxanne’s small dream has taken on a life of its own. Championing Filipino artistry, every print, fabric, and garment is crafted in-house.
Perhaps that’s why beyond the atelier, Plains & Prints is worn by style icons embodying the brand’s classic Filipina sensibilities. According to Roxanne, “when we signed our first ambassador in 2002, we didn’t want girls who were just pretty or popular. We want our women to be fun, but still have that sense of style that is timeless.”
So they finally found their first icon: Gretchen Barretto. “She is beautiful the moment she wakes up. She doesn’t even look like she tries. That’s what the brand is all about—being simple, understated, yet effortlessly beautiful,” Roxanne explained.
From Gretchen, Plains & Prints started a string of partnerships with effortlessly stylish women. Model-columnist Celine Lopez signed on in 2007. British-Thai actress Paula Taylor joined in the following year. Several years later, legendary stylist Liz Uy became the face of the brand after being the partner stylist for six years.
Until finally, actress Anne Curtis fronts the Plains & Prints brand up to today. Come to think of it, she is classy, sophisticated yet adventurous—an exact embodiment of a modern Filipina.
A Lifetime of Collaborations
As Plains & Prints slowly established a reputation for style, so did the label’s portfolio of projects with other prestigious names in fashion. We witnessed the ever-talented photographers Marc Nicdao and Wig Tysmans combining their visions and the label’s staples in a picture-perfect collection in 2015.
Rhett Eala, Rajo Laurel, Randy Ortiz, Maureen Disini, and Vania Romoff followed suit the year after. They all collaborated with the label for charity. All proceeds went to the ICanServe foundation’s campaign for breast cancer awareness.
In 2017, we saw two gorgeous capsule collections. One was leaning on refinement with Vania Romoff, and the other a bit more playful with Mattel’s iconic Barbie. The following year, we saw the tropical prints of Amina Aranaz and classic silhouettes from Mark Bumgarner.
The Biggest Designer Collaboration Ever
This year, in order for Plains & Prints to make a historic move, all these fashion visionaries are returning for one grandiose collaboration. The Beyond 25 collection has 30 stylish pieces, where there are two featured pieces per artist.
Rajo Laurel gives the asymmetrical dress a comfortable and practical take with the coral Shantelle (P2898) and printed Sophia (P2898).
Randy Ortiz reaffirms his love for flowy dresses with the white Carmen (P3498) and chambray Adella (P3498).
Rhett Eala plays with Lime and blue accents in the Hanna top and skirt (P3298), then goes all in on the square-necked Chelsea set (P3298).
Vania Romoff’s third collab with Plains & Prints gives us the red Marcella dress (P2998) and white and khaki Carlotta (P2998).
Maureen Disini’s all-white Rebecca (P2998) contrasts with the dark and printed Joanna(2998).
Amina Aranaz takes a break from accessory design with the printed Celeste top and pants (P3998) and Clara set in classic rust (P3998).
Patty Ang lends her minimalism with the mint Billie top and pants (P2998) and the navy Drew set (P2998) accentuated by its feathered pin.
Rosanna Ocampo offers a lacy dress in nude Sabine (P2998) and blue Sasha (P2998).
Anthony Ramirez shows his penchant for solid colors with the blue Kiarra (P2898) and the black Catalina.
Cheetah Rivera’s youthful Elise dress (P2898) also comes in a white and mint version called Bonnie(P2898).
Martin Bautista’s one-shoulder number comes in the sienna Celine top and skirt (P2998) and the printed Cecile top and skirt (P2998).
Wig Tysmans’ landscapes feature prominently in the Tanya dress (P2898) and Nashtassia pantsuit (P3498).
Mark Nicdao showcases a digital print of the city that never sleeps in New York dress (P2998) and Manhattan top and bottom (P2998).
Charina Sarte’s signature ruffled dress comes in two versions: The polka-dotted Paris (P2998) and the mustard Manila (P2998).
Mark Bumgarner’s classic silhouettes return to Plains & Prints with the Daphne pantsuit (P2998) and the printed Camilla dress (P2998).
