Kelvin Morales' Spring/Summer 2023 Collection Recalls Memories of Youth

Kelvin Morales, the young designer best known for his subversive tailoring and experimental textures, has given L'Officiel Philippines exclusive access to preview his Spring/Summer 2023 collection, titled Dalaginding.

"Dalaginding [is a word that harks back to my] memories from the past, a part of me that I don’t want to forget, that reminds me of a person I looked up to growing up," Morales explains. In colloquial Filipino, dalaginding often refers to a young, unmarried woman; other times, it is used as a derogatory term for an effeminate gay man. Morales is determined to take back the slur, to brandish it proudly as a part of his creative identity. "While there is a specific definition or meaning for this term, it's also possible [to use it] as a personal or cultural reference."

The collection is littered with references to childhood play: jackstones and guileless scribbles pepper the bodices of shirts, the distinctive plaid of a school uniform peeks out from between trouser pleats. "Memories play an important role in shaping our identity, and they can be used as a source of comfort or nostalgia," Morales continues. "It is natural to want to hold onto memories that are meaningful to us and to be reminded of those memories from time to time. That is why we cherish and keep them alive even as we move forward."

See more of Dalaginding, below.

Shop Kelvin Morales' pieces on his website.