Showcasing how one can boost their style using cheap and sustainable materials.
The three-episode reality lifestyle series Make and Mend! officially concluded both its production and airing run, leaving audiences with a renewed understanding of the connection between sustainability and fashion.
The program began with an ambitious challenge that required three designers to produce high-fashion runway ensembles using only secondhand materials sourced from local ukay-ukay shops.
To further intensify the competition, each contestant was limited to a strict budget of five hundred pesos.
Competing in the challenge were Aivann Romero of Ateneo de Manila University, Ian Dave Allam of Far Eastern University, and Mary Joanne Ordoña of the University of Santo Tomas.
Throughout the competition, the three designers sought to prove that sustainable fashion can remain creative, expressive, and visually striking without sacrificing artistic vision.
In the second episode, the competition moved beyond the studio and into the everyday realities of Filipino commuting culture.
Aivann traveled to Bambang via tricycle, Ian rode a jeepney heading toward Recto, while Joanne walked through the busy streets of España in search of materials for their respective garments.
Inside the studio, hosts Danna and Cheki were accompanied by fashion consultant and CEO Marion Solon, who shared expert advice and insights about the fast-paced and often unpredictable experience of thrift shopping.
Despite the pressure and uncertainty that came with sourcing secondhand materials, all three contestants successfully completed their ukay-ukay hunts.
For the show’s first major design challenge, the contestants were tasked to interpret the theme “Peak Hours: What It Takes to Get There.”
Their creations were evaluated by a distinguished panel composed of Solon, rising fashion designer Reese Latonio, and filmmaker and costume designer Cris Cao.
Reese Latonio recently launched his namesake fashion label through his graduation collection Sidlak, while Cris Cao built his creative foundation through his work with Project 8 Projects.
Together, the judges assessed how effectively each designer transformed personal experiences and narratives into wearable fashion pieces.
The competition reached its culmination during the grand runway presentation in the third episode, where each contestant showcased garments that reflected their unique stories, perspectives, and interpretations of the challenge theme.
This is a press release from M&M Studios, producers of the online show Make And Mend! Trendrod is an official media partner for this show under Trendrod Info’s Campus Work initiative.