By Dara Clariza Evangelista
When I went to the MaArte Fair, I expected to see beautiful Filipino craftsmanship, but nothing could have prepared me for the moment I turned a corner and this coat literally stopped me in my tracks. Mouth open, heart racing, I just stood there in awe. It was a coat from the Bilog collection by PamPinay, a piece so vibrant and joyful that it felt like it was made for people who love colors and happy, memorable clothes. Like me. Haha!
The coat is a visual feast: a cascade of playful, circular cutouts made from upcycled indigenous fabrics, stitched together in a way that gives movement and texture with every step. It’s one of those rare designs that works both as art and fashion, something you’d proudly wear, but also want to hang on a wall just to stare at.
I was lucky enough to chat with the woman behind it, Pamela Gotangco, founder and designer of PamPinay. Based in Switzerland but with her heart firmly rooted in the Philippines, Pamela started PamPinay during the height of the pandemic. What began as a livelihood project for weavers and seamstresses who lost their jobs quickly grew into a brand that empowers artisans, celebrates Filipino heritage, and injects Pamela’s background in visual arts into wearable pieces.
Her work is rooted in storytelling, comic book-inspired prints that make you laugh, Filipiniana silhouettes reimagined with a wink, and dramatic coats like the one from her Bilog Collection that champion sustainability. The coat was born from her commitment to upcycling, incorporating deadstock fabric, Swiss lace, denim, and indigenous textiles into fresh, unexpected designs.
“If tradition feels too rigid, the younger generation won’t wear it,” Pamela told me. “But if it’s fun and funky, they will, and that keeps the heritage alive.”
And alive it is. The Bilog coat has even made its way to Paris Fashion Week, turning heads in one of the most fashionable cities in the world. But seeing it up close at the MaArte Fair, surrounded by Filipino creativity, felt like the perfect setting, an unapologetically bold love letter to culture, craft, and color.
PamPinay isn’t just making clothes. They’re making joy, stitched together in every piece.
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Miss Jay-Ann is on the cover of STYLISH Magazine’s special Women In Style cover edition as she talks about her business, vlogging, and her luxury bag collection — from Chanel to Hermès.
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