This Gen Z fashion designer is bringing genderless clothing in the spotlight

Over the course of the past several years, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the trend in fashion has been steadily moving in the direction of being more gender fluid. There is a growing trend in the fashion industry toward the deconstruction of the traditional binary of masculine and feminine expression, and we couldn’t be happier about it. This trend is being led by both high-end design houses as well as smaller, independent labels.

A-list celebrities are no exception, as evidenced by the appearance of Brad Pitt, Harry Styles, and even our very own Jericho Rosales in skirts and dresses that steal the show and are anything but boring on the internet.

In light of the foregoing, it should come as no surprise that today’s younger generation of designers is not afraid to exercise their creative faculties in the service of promoting greater social inclusion. For example, Ellis Co, who just launched his fashion line ARCHIVES at the age of 21 and showcased androgynous pieces at the forefront of his autumn 2022 collection called Memoirs of the Future, recently assembled some of Manila’s most fashionable people to celebrate the occasion.

The young designer draws ideas for his designs from a variety of fashion eras and aesthetics, including eco-brutalism, modernism, and the fashion aesthetic of Japan. His works are unquestionably ahead of the trend curve. Even though his art comes from a rich history, he is not trying to recreate what came before. Ellis tells Preview that she is particularly concerned with the silhouette, how the form looks, how the garment drops on the body, and especially the little details while she is designing. “When I design, I am really focused on the silhouette. In a nutshell, I’m attempting to create something that hasn’t been done before but is nonetheless recognizable. I make an effort to recognize the familiar within the foreign.”

The Ellis collection consisted of a total of 44 different outfits. The brand is known for its signature pieces, which include an enormous outerwear with obi lapels and curved cut lapels, a white garb with a dramatic flounced hat, and a couple of traditional pairings in muted neutral and gray hues. The white garb with the dramatic flounced hat is also available. At one point, he even added boxing gloves and head gears, which are obvious signs of his predilection for boxing, one of his many interests aside from fashion design. These accessories are total signifiers of his penchant for boxing.

Ellis made sure that everything, from the garments to the models’ makeup, was consistent and gender-neutral. This is why he sought the assistance of makeup artist Gerry Penaso and former Preview beauty editor Nicole Arcano for the runway’s avant-garde beauty looks. The female and male models donned an enhanced bedhead style, complete with burgundy eyes, bleached brows, raw and unpolished hair, and metallic pointed nails to round out the overall feel. This look was inspired by the appearance of future humanity emerging from hibernation pods.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that the fashion industry is an art form.”