Ivarluski x Bitagcol, a pop-up store at Power Plant Mall, showcases the new collaborative fashion line from the two Filipino designers, as they seek to expand their design horizons and update their aesthetic hallmarks for the present day.
The collaboration came about as the two designers, Ivarluski Aseron and Jo Ann Bitagcol, discussed their attraction to each other’s designs. They weren’t really similar, yet both enjoyed each other’s designs enough that they had each other’s pieces in their wardrobes.
“We both lean towards contemporary design. In fact, we often wear each other’s designs,” they both said in a press release. They found themselves gravitating toward updating their current designs, with each other’s personal touch to give it a sense of renewal and comfort.
Indeed, for both Aseron and Bitagcol, what brought them together was their respect for the craftsmanship of their designs. Bitagcol’s boxy tops and loose, free-flowing apparel, with their iconic prints, meshed well with Aseron’s more geometric design, which focused on consistency and structure.
That became the focus of their new collection and the overall feel of the pop-up store.
For Ivarluski x Bitagcol, the pop-up store was designed like a gallery exhibit, exemplifying the idea of fashion and design as craftsmanship. They have mannequins and fitting forms at the front of the store, all while highlighting the new updated designs in the racks. It’s an interesting approach, and one that puts forward the necessity of labor in creating the beauty we see in the world.
“We were intentional about presenting a space that was honest, authentic, simple, yet contemporary,” the two of them said.
Bitagcol said she had been meaning to update the designs of her prints for quite some time, and the new collaborative effort between the two allowed her to do so. While still featuring her iconic barong prints, Bitagcol expands her couture horizons, showcasing her unique design hallmarks in new pieces such as kimonos and lacy terno dresses.
Aseron, meanwhile, integrates puzzle pieces into his monochromatic tops. “I first introduced the puzzle piece detail when I presented my collection for the Red Charity Gala in 2023. Puzzles were a childhood pastime of mine,” he said. “They also symbolize autism, which is very relevant for me since I have a nephew who is on the spectrum.”
As they refresh their ideas for the New Year, Ivarluski x Bitagcol showcased how contemporary design has evolved to incorporate both the past and the future. Both Bitagcol and Aseron assert the continued viability of their signature designs, showing their adaptability to the changing fashion trends of our time.
Ivarluski x Bitagcol will remain open on the second floor of Power Plant Mall in Rockwell Center, Makati, until February 2026.
Photographs from Ivarluski x Bitagcol.
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