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‘Ivarluski x Bitagcol’ Opens New Pop-Up at Power Plant Mall
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.
Respecting the Craft in Design
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.
Putting the Designers Together
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.
Read More: Jor-el Espina Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Benefit Gala Show
Frequently Asked Questions
The partnership is built on mutual respect for craftsmanship and a shared leaning toward contemporary design. While their styles differ—Aseron focuses on geometric structure and Bitagcol on loose, printed silhouettes—they sought to update their signature looks by incorporating each other’s personal touches. The result is a collection that balances Aseron’s rigidity with Bitagcol’s free-flowing comfort, emphasizing fashion as a disciplined craft.
Aseron integrates puzzle-shaped details into his monochromatic tops, a technique he first debuted at the 2023 Red Charity Gala. Technically, these puzzle motifs add a textured, interlocking geometric layer to his structured garments. Symbolically, they represent a personal connection to his childhood and serve as an advocacy symbol for autism awareness, inspired by his nephew who is on the spectrum.
For this pop-up, Bitagcol expanded her design horizons beyond her traditional boxy tops. While her signature barong prints remain a hallmark, she has adapted them for more diverse couture pieces, including kimonos and lacy terno dresses. This update shows the evolution of her prints from graphic statements into versatile elements of high-fashion construction.
Rather than a traditional retail setup, the space is curated like a gallery exhibit. By placing mannequins and fitting forms at the front, the designers highlight the labor-intensive process of garment construction. The intentional use of an “honest, authentic, and simple” aesthetic at Power Plant Mall positions the clothing as art objects, emphasizing the necessity of human labor in creating contemporary beauty.
The collection leverages the tension between Aseron’s monochromatic, geometric consistency and Bitagcol’s vibrant, heritage-inspired prints. This contrast allows the pieces to remain modern and versatile while still carrying the “past and future” themes of Filipino fashion. It demonstrates how signature designs can be adapted to current trends without losing the identity of the individual designers.
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