Contemporary Philippine wear designer Jor-el Espina approaches his craft with equal parts discipline and artistry. In his two decades in the industry, he has managed to find that sweet spot where creativity and technique, form and function come together. As part of the celebrations to mark his 20th anniversary in 2025, Jor-el has immersed in a creative collaboration with Ballet Philippines, presenting a comprehensive collection of costumes for the full-length Filipiniana dance piece, Ang Panaginip.

“Ballet resonates deeply with me as a designer,” he begins. “It’s storytelling through movement, emotion, and music. The grace and precision of the ballet has inspired a pursuit of elegance and functionality in my creations.”

CREATING FOR MOVEMENT AND MOTION

Since breaking through the fashion space, Jor-el has worked towards mastering the art of stitching design narratives through fabric and design. In creating costumes for a ballet production, he found himself paying closer attention to movement and motion. He explains, “In ballet, the emphasis is on the lines, movements, and silhouettes. These are the same principles that are central to fashion design. In creating costumes for Ang Panaginip, I thought about how the garments would move and transform when in motion.” In this latest pairing with the country’s premiere dance company, the designer found himself infusing more flow and fluidity into his designs.

Stage costumes demand strong visual expression. When it comes to ballet, freedom to move is just as crucial. “My main considerations were movement, comfort, and durability. Ballet costumes must withstand rigorous physicality while maintaining their visual appeal,” he says. In choosing materials for this collection, Jor-el gravitated towards light, handwoven Philippine fabrics sourced from around the region. Commercial fabrics were also utilized as reinforcements. While embellishments were applied for the purpose of enhancing the visual narratives on stage, they were executed with ease of movement in mind. Jor-el intimates, “It was incredibly rewarding to see how my designs became an extension of their performance.”

DESIGNING THE DREAM

It was by no coincidence that Jor-El’s latest creative collaboration with Ballet Philippines would come to life through that full length ballet, Ang Panaginip. “The title alone, which translates to ‘The Dream’ speaks to the boundless possibilities of this collaboration,” he ponders. “Ballet

Philippines’ legacy and dedication to excellence has elevated this partnership into something truly special. As a designer, creating for such a prestigious dance company feels like a milestone that marries my love for design and culture in a way I’ve always envisioned.” Jor-el designed the costumes for all the characters in Ang Panaginip, bringing his contemporary Filipino sensibilities to the grand stage. Every piece on the show is a labor of love. It is also an embodiment of Philippine culture, values, and heritage. “I particularly enjoyed designing for the 12 princesses,” the costume designer confesses. “Their roles demanded a unique blend of all-Filipino infused traditional costumes, theatricality, and grace. This allowed me to push creative boundaries. The interplay of colors and textures in their costumes made it both a design challenge and a personal favorite.”

Instead of prescribing to the usual Filipinian forms, shapes and patterns, Jor-el lent his signature play of textures, colorways, patterns, and layers to the costumes of Ang Panaginip. Although he infused his unique brand of youthfulness to the traditional dress for this production, Jor-el was
extremely mindful about honoring traditions especially where weaves considered by indigenous tribes were concerned. “Many of the local fabrics used were collected over the span of 20 years as a designer. We combined various woven textiles with local patterns, beadwork, treatments and techniques. I was careful not to use sacred weaves and instead opted for local fabrics that can be utilized for everyday clothing or even home accessories.” As a devout advocate of local craft, it was important for Jor-el that his creations pay tribute to cultural relevance and source.

ALWAYS WITH PURPOSE

For Jor-el, the creative exercise involved in designing costumes for Ang Panaginip was a reminder that “it’s important to create pieces that not only look beautiful. They must also serve a purpose.” The collaboration has also deepened the designer’s love for storytelling and movement through design. As it has always been with his bespoke and ready-to-wear garments, Jor-el’s pieces for Ang Panaginip were made with a clear purpose: to empower the wearer through function and beauty.

As the finishing touches to the costumes of Ang Panaginip are applied, Jor-el hints that there are plans to bring elements of the ballet into his future collections. He elaborates and ends, “The costumes are rich in texture, drapery, and Filipino-inspired details that can translate beautifully into wearable fashion. I envision creating a ready-to-wear line that incorporates these elements, offering pieces that are theatrical yet suited for everyday life—a perfect bridge between stage and reality.”

For more information about Jor-el Espina and his designs, follow him on Instagram @jorel_espinaph.

Ballet Philippines’ Ang Panaginip runs on February 28, March 1 and March 2 at the The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Entertainment City. For tickets, log on to www.ballet.ph.