NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Approaching things with innocence and child-like wonder in her craft, Nina Amoncio is a rising designer whose vision goes beyond her years
See fashion with childlike wonder through Nina Amoncio
Drawing has always been an expression of one’s inner psyche. This is why long before children could develop their intellect and emotions, the easiest way for them to express themselves is through the most colorful crayon from the box, in the doodles they make to flesh out what they see. But fret not, a child’s intelligence is not measured by how accurate or detailed they are. Anything circular may emulate a head but to them, it could be a ball or a sun. It’s this specific ambiguity that makes it an unreliable indicator.
For Nina Amoncio, this unsung art form is what brought her to Rakuten Fashion Week in Tokyo, aptly entitled GUNITA. “I wanted to feature a visual interpretation of an eight-year-old child. Growing up, children exposed to these storybooks have seen large visuals in forms of exaggerated imageries and other artistic representations of the Filipino culture through conversations, settings, and elements such as the importance of family, love for the country and the values embedded in these storylines.” She also revealed later on that it was her little sister Ann Suzette who drew the visuals that percolated in all of her pieces. “I’m a sentimental designer, that is why oftentimes my designs are geared towards these concepts.”
But what does the brand stand for other than the little women and men on her clothes? After showcasing her graduation collection and joining Bench Fashion Week twice (where she won in her second attempt), she answers, “My brand Antonina is really a concoction of my principles, beliefs and life experiences. Principles and beliefs revolving on socially-relevant issues and the Filipino culture and life experiences—especially my childhood.” In every garment she creates, Amoncio makes sure her vision is explained accurately as possible, whether the wearer knows or not. “Research definitely plays a big role in any design-related work or project; I always think of presenting it to a panel,” she says.
A crowd favorite when she debuted both of her collections at Bench Fashion Week, Amoncio’s driven to showcase how far Filipino talent can go. “I hope to still continue on by producing clothes and participating in fashion shows in the Philippines and maybe abroad. I also want to create high quality, ready-to-wear pieces inspired by my avantgarde collection, to make my brand more affordable and accessible to people.”
“I’M A SENTIMENTAL DESIGNER, THAT IS WHY OFTENTIMES MY DESIGNS ARE GEARED TOWARDS THESE CONCEPTS”