Cover Heirloom by Jor-El Espina pays tribute to Patis Tesoro with an original 30-piece collection (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
Heirloom by Jor-El Espina pays tribute to Patis Tesoro with an original 30-piece collection (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
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Jor-El Espina’s ‘Heirloom’ collection honours Patis Tesoro with his own twist on her classic aesthetic
Designer Jor-El Espina’s latest collection, Heirloom, draws from deep roots. Developed over several months in conversation with Patis Tesoro, the 30-piece line was born out of a shared respect for heritage and a commitment to craft.
The idea took shape after a visit to Tesoro’s home in San Pablo, Laguna, arranged by the women behind ArteFino. “We started talking about how we could explore something special for this year’s fair. That’s how the collaboration began. I’m happy she agreed. I learned so much from her.”
Read more: Patis Tesoro shows no signs of slowing down in her effort to preserve and promote Filipino design
Over a series of visits, Espina immersed himself in Tesoro’s world, as her studio became his learning hub. Known for her strong visual language and her long-standing advocacy for Philippine craftsmanship, Tesoro offered Espina both inspiration and guidance.
“She’s a woman full of wisdom,” he remarks. “When you enter her place, everything you see is art. What I really learned from her is to stay firm in your identity. Don’t be afraid to do things your way.”
Above A look from ‘Heirloom’ by Jor-El Espina, inspired by Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
Above Looks from ‘Heirloom’ by Jor-El Espina, inspired by Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
A look from ‘Heirloom’ by Jor-El Espina, inspired by Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
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The collection developed gradually, shaped by hands-on sessions and long conversations about design, tradition, and personal expression. “We had a lot of discussions about the design process. She taught me how to do specific stitches properly and how to approach colour. She walked me through how she thinks,” says Espina, The last time he visited was just two weeks ago, when Tesoro saw the full collection for the first time. “She was amazed.”
While the foundation was Tesoro’s, Espina brought his own design sensibilities into the mix. “The construction is more modern than what she usually does,” he explains. “I used her techniques, but also the ones I’ve already developed.” The result is a collection of multifunctional garments—jackets, skirts, drop-waist dresses, piña tops, cover-ups—finished with hand embroidery, painting, and intricate patchwork.
See also: Here’s what to expect at ArteFino Fair 2025: Champions of Change
Above Jor-El Espina and Patis Tesoro in her San Pablo, Laguna home (Photo: ArteFino)
Above Jor-El Espina and the founders of ArteFino visit Patis Tesoro in her San Pablo, Laguna studio (Photo: ArteFino)
Jor-El Espina and Patis Tesoro in her San Pablo, Laguna home (Photo: ArteFino)
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When Tesoro released her book Filipiniana is Forever earlier this year, Espina took it as an opportunity to study her work in greater depth. He pored over designs from different decades, tracing how her style evolved while staying rooted in tradition. This research informed many of the creative decisions in Heirloom. Some of the pieces even feature older fabrics from Tesoro’s personal archive, along with painted segments and small patchwork details—fragments of her past work reinterpreted through a new lens.
The visual language of Heirloom balances two points of view. “If you follow my brand, you’ll see which parts are hers and which are mine,” Espina says. “I played with more bursts of color. Patis Tesoro leans toward bohemian Filipiniana. Mine tends to have a more contemporary silhouette. That contrast helped me find my place within the collaboration.”
Above A look from ‘Heirloom’ by Jor-El Espina, inspired by Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
Above A look from ‘Heirloom’ by Jor-El Espina, inspired by Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
A look from ‘Heirloom’ by Jor-El Espina, inspired by Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of Jor-El Espina)
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The collection’s name came naturally. “She’s the doyenne of Filipino fashion, and I felt like I inherited something from her—her techniques, her outlook,” he says. “Those are the heirloom pieces. Things she passed on through example.” Some of the techniques he’s taken with him: cross-stitching, hand embroidery, even beading, which he rarely used before. “I don’t usually work with glittery beading, but I tried to include it this time. I wanted this collection to reflect more of her.”
This exchange has also shifted how he sees his own role. “There were moments I surprised myself,” he reflects. “I thought I knew how to do certain things, but I had to slow down and learn them again. That was humbling.”
He also came away with a clearer sense of what matters. “One thing she said stuck with me: ‘A good Filipiniana stays forever.’ That made me think about how to make pieces that can be passed on—to your children, to your family. Clothes that last, not just in quality but in meaning.”
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
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Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
