Over a year after his return to Manila, Prince Padilla has created a fashion movement of his own—his brand Novel. The 27-year-old winner of this year’s MEGA Young Designers Competition recounts his fashion journey with us: His new sense of community, his process of refining his creative vision, and his hopes of giving back to the next generation of builders and leaders
This is an excerpt from MEGA’s July 2024 Designer Profile
You were in MEGA’s June 2023 One To Watch—a year later and you’re in the July 2024 Designer Profile. How has your vision changed since then?
I think the reason why I started the brand sort of just got richer in terms of really defining what it stands for—what we want to communicate and the kind of things we want to celebrate through the brand. Last time, I gave a more generic response to you. But I guess now, looking back and forward, I can define it a lot better.
We now know the kind of clothes we want to move forward with and the kind we don’t. And also, the celebration of the industry. Since we talked, we’ve had a few events here and there. We just tried to be more involved and to keep a presence, which I think is important because last time I spoke to you about community as well. Now, it feels like I’m more in it. With that, I guess it comes more of a responsibility and an obligation to continue.
You recently opened your studio this year. How has it been?
Still renovating it! I’ve had to prioritize YDC. It took up most of the time, but it’s been worth it, obviously. We plan to open in a couple of months. We just need a few small renovations here and there. Then we can open our doors to the industry: potential clients, friends, family. Everyone. It’s been operational, technically for a year, but only for me and my team. We’d like to open it eventually.
Congratulations on winning MEGA’s Young Designers Competition! How different is your “Novel” collection from your past work?
I guess it’s not that different. In terms of intention, it’s always the same. That’s why I didn’t really come up with a specific name for the collection. It was really just the name of the brand. Because what I wanted to do for YDC is embody the same intention I’ve always had, but just elevated a bit further.
Can you sum up your whole MEGA YDC experience? Have you always planned to join?
I’d heard about it quite early because it’s a legacy. It’s a historical thing that’s been going on for over a decade. As soon as I saw that you were doing it again, it was already in the back of my head. It was conversations with friends that pushed me to apply. I did my own research on what it was about. I felt like I had to because it was the perfect means for young brands, even for established ones, to get themselves out there in the industry.
How did you feel when you first presented your collection to the judges?
I think I carried the same feelings as the majority. A little bit of everything: anxiety, excitement, optimism. I knew coming in it was gonna be a tough road ahead. But you really have to love your job in order to be able to acknowledge that, and still be able to go through with whatever it takes to be able to create these eight looks. I’ve just been constantly optimistic because you have to be, despite the nerves, which is normal.
Aside from actually winning, the most magical thing that has come out of this is the relationships you make along the way. It really solidifies the idea that collaboration, friendships, relationships, and community can get you through a lot. Even if at the end of the day, there has to be a winner. I think I can probably speak for all six of us that throughout this process, everyone was just so supportive in a lot of ways. Even when we weren’t here together physically, we were constantly following up on each other and seeing what was happening. Celebrating everyone’s progress, basically.
Follow Prince Padilla’s new fashion journey in MEGA’s July 2024 issue, now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Photographed by JHARWIN CASTAÑEDA. Creative Direction PATRICK TY. Styling RYUJI SHIOMITSU assisted by RICH FORTU, FED PANEN, SHELLA LIWANAG, and KIRK LUCAS. Makeup JAMES FRANCISCO. Hair JASHMINE CAROLINE. Production JONES PALTENG. Models QUEENIE TAO of PMAP and KAYLA CARTER of MERCATOR.
