How Francis Libiran and the country’s top designers
rewrote the rules of bridalwear at Inspired Beginnings 2025
Actually, there were no rules, only imagination, wild and unbound. At Inspired Beginnings 2025 at Conrad Manila, the gowns moved like verses on fabric, shedding tradition in favor of something braver, softer, and entirely new.
In his solo couture show titled Devoción, Francis Libiran set the tone for a reimagined bridal experience with a collection that felt both intimate and architectural. His showcase gave us a glimpse of the evolving sensibilities of the modern Filipina bride.
The celebrated designer presented 24 gowns and six menswear pieces that broke away from bridal conventions. Instead of crisp whites, Libiran opted for softness, experimenting with pale pinks, gentle nudes, and delicate neutrals that complemented a wider range of skin tones, particularly those of Filipinas. These hues, though subtle, made a statement: modern romance doesn’t always come in white.
What stood out most about Devoción was its structure. Drawing from his background in architecture, Libiran favored sculpted forms over classic silhouettes.
“This is not only a fashion show,” said Conrad Manila’s commercial director Joanne Golong-Gomez in her opening remarks. “This is a poetic journey to love, legacy, and craftsmanship.”
Under the creative direction of Ariel Lozada, that journey became a sensory experience that redefined bridal couture as something more artful and something closer to memory
The two-day showcase continued with a grand finale runway curated by Robby Carmona. Designers Rian Fernandez, Manny Halasan, Nat Manilag, Ehrran Montoya, Val Taguba, Vee Tan, and Ryan Ablaza Uson each offered their own take on contemporary bridalwear, proving that Filipino design is as diverse as the love stories it helps tell.
Meanwhile, wedding stylists turned tables into canvases. Blooms Events by Allen & JP, Drew Menor, and Dave Sandoval, among others, created tablescapes inspired by visual artists—from Arturo Luz to Mark Justiniani—infusing the event with cross-disciplinary creativity. It was “design meeting devotion,” in every sense of the word.
Inspired Beginnings 2025, organized by Conrad Manila and event partner Getting Married, opened with a ribbon-cutting led by industry names and local officials, including Pasay Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano and artist-mentors like Lizanne Uychaco, Impy Pilapil, and Olivia d’Aboville. The event was part trunk show, part creative summit, reaffirming the hotel’s position as a hub for luxury weddings.
