At just 25, Hannah Barrera is carrying forward a family legacy of fashion, but she’s forging a path that’s distinctly hers.
The great-granddaughter of Marina Antonio, granddaughter of Malu Veloso, daughter of Vicky Veloso-Barrera, and niece of Letlet Veloso, Hannah could have followed the well-trodden path of her forebears. Instead, she carved her own, earning a scholarship at DLSU-College of St. Benilde and pursuing fashion as pure artistry.
Think of her designs as wearable paintings. Hannah hand-paints, dyes, and weaves her fabrics, painstakingly creates flowers and embellishments, and sources fine Philippine textiles—from piña and abaca to silk and cotton—directly from artisans across the country. Her silhouettes are timeless, her eye for haute couture is precise, and her vision is unmistakably her own.
at FGI Milan
It was that vision that caught the attention of Piattaforma Moda, which selected her to represent Benilde at Fashion Graduate Italia in Milan. The Talent to Talent show featured eleven emerging designers from around the globe, including France, New York, Tokyo, China, Korea, Chicago, Mexico, Melbourne, and Monaco. It was the Philippines’ debut, and Hannah became the first Filipino to grace the Milan catwalk.
The reaction was immediate. Audience members rose to get a closer look, Instagram and YouTube reels buzzing with applause. Her off-white bustier in Ilocano silk, structured with a technically demanding pannier, drew cries of “Bellisima!” while vividly dyed piña and abaca creations adorned with handcrafted gumamelas and bougainvilleas landed her on Italian TV’s Canale 5. By the next day, international fashion schools were lining up to explore collaborations with Benilde.
Off the runway, Hannah soaked in the experience, connecting with fellow young designers from across the globe, exploring Milan’s exhibitions, attending talks, and visiting Paris for shows by Christian Dior, Rick Owens, Azzedine Alaïa, and Paul Poiret. Each encounter broadened her perspective and sharpened her creative instincts.
Back home in Quezon City, her atelier hums with life as she prepares bespoke orders for women attending extraordinary occasions.
