Cover A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
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Created for ArteFino’s 10th anniversary, ‘Dekada’ sees Jor-el Espina revisit his signature looks while exploring a more playful and vibrant design language
Ten years into his journey with ArteFino, Jor-el Espina has little interest in standing still. Every collection, he says, feels like starting over—an opportunity to experiment, refine and discover something new. That mindset sits at the heart of Dekada, his latest body of work and a reflection on a career defined by constant reinvention.
Created to coincide with ArteFino’s 10th anniversary, Dekada looks back on the milestones that have shaped Espina’s design language while introducing new ideas that point towards its future. Rather than centring on a single aesthetic, the collection is divided into three distinct categories, bringing together reimagined signature pieces, one-of-a-kind creations and fresh silhouettes designed to appeal to different sensibilities.
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Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
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Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
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Craftsmanship remains the foundation of Espina’s work. Around 70 per cent of the collection is made using handwoven piña fabric, while laser cutting, silk screening, hand painting and intricate beadwork add layers of texture and detail. One playful addition stands out: coloured safety pins, collected by the designer over several years and reimagined as embellishments across selected garments.
The collection also marks a departure from the muted palette long associated with Espina. Alongside his familiar natural tones are brighter hues, with striped and colour-blocked barongs introducing a more vibrant direction. Transformer garments—including apron tops and tapis skirts designed to be styled in multiple ways—reflect his interest in building wardrobes that adapt to different occasions rather than fixed looks.
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Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
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Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
Above A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
A look at Jor-el Espina’s ‘Dekada’ collection
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For Espina, Dekada is less a retrospective than a snapshot of a designer still in motion. “I always feel like I’m starting all over again—discovering and experimenting, improving and learning,” he says. “I’ve always believed that there is room for growth and to never be complacent.”
That philosophy has carried him through a decade of designing. Rather than celebrating a finished chapter, Dekada suggests the next one is already taking shape.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
