By Dara Clariza Evangelista
DBTK’s debut at Manila Fashion Week wasn’t just a runway show. It was a love letter to imagination, ambition, and the endless creativity of Filipino streetwear.
Titled Folding Dreams Into Flight, the show took the brand’s signature energy and turned it into something cinematic, emotional, and deeply personal.
The set itself looked straight out of a dream: pastel houses, floating clouds, and paper airplanes that felt like metaphors for the brand’s 13-year journey from humble beginnings to a bold new chapter. It was nostalgic yet forward-thinking, a stage that reminded everyone what dreaming big actually looks like.
The collection was divided into three distinct mini stories, each one telling a different version of what streetwear could be. The first half burst with color and whimsy, playful, almost polished Decora-inspired looks filled the runway, layered with pins, pastel knits, and heart-shaped patches. A standout was a soft pink lace-up top paired with a yellow cardigan and wide denim embroidered with rainbow hearts. It felt youthful and tender, like growing up without losing your spark.
The second set had a more rugged, country-inspired sensibility, think fuzzy textures, leather pants, and earthy tones. A model in a moss-green top layered with dimensional lettering embodied this mood, bringing a grounded energy that still carried the DBTK edge. The mix of textures, wool, denim, leather, was tactile and confident, reminding everyone that craftsmanship sits at the heart of great streetwear.
Then came the darker, moodier close: racing silhouettes, structured varsity jackets, and clean pinstripe shirts that added polish and strength. A standout detail was the bag shaped like a star, a nod to Genshin Impact’s celestial symbols, playful yet striking. It was a moment that perfectly summed up DBTK’s DNA: merging pop culture and streetwear with clever design storytelling.
Altogether, Folding Dreams Into Flight wasn’t about chasing trends, it was about telling a story of growth, creativity, and identity. From its colorful beginnings to its quietly powerful close, every look spoke the same language of authenticity.
And as the paper planes soared across the stage, DBTK made it clear: Filipino streetwear has wings, and it’s ready to fly.
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Jasmine Curtis-Smith is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine right now, as she shares her thoughts on good storytelling in films, as she’s set to star in upcoming movies Open Night, a 2025 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival sapphic film entry; and Manila’s Finest, an upcoming 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) crime drama movie.
Read the Stylish Magazine September-October 2025 cover story here.
Watch out for a new #StylishPodcast episode featuring our cover girl Jasmine Curtis-Smith, dropping soon on Facebook and YouTube.
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