A meeting of two different time frames is an out-of-this-world exprience that only happens in films or TV series. It’s just simply impossible to experience it in real life.
But for some reason, 21-year-old designer Ellis Co was able to make this happen through his Memoirs of the Future Fall/Winter 2022 collection from the high-fashion streetwear brand Archives.
Both the debut collection and the newly launched brand were born out of Co’s eye for timeless pieces, marking his creative prowess beyond his lifetime.
‘Memoirs of the Future’ Fall/Winter 2022 collection features pieces inspired from Ellis Co’s (left) passion for eco-brutalism, modernity and Japanese fashion aesthetic.
“I chose the brand name Archives because the clothes that I design are timeless and lasting pieces, and in itself, a collection of historical records,” said the founder and director of design. “I perceive these pieces as the remnants of me as a designer for years to come, and years after I’m gone.”
Staying on brand, the fashion presentation went beyond the traditional runway. The Memoirs of the Future show was a multisensory experience envisioned by the young designer and brought to life by director Frank Mamaril and Archives’ creative director Reika Mayani last 27 July at Whitespace Manila.
The events place was transformed into a portal — a scene from a dystopian film, an arena where gray angular structures were complemented with lush greens — where guests got a glimpse of the future of fashion through Co’s designs.
The guiding theme of the collection is Co’s passion for eco-brutalism, modernity and Japanese fashion aesthetic.
These themes were echoed in the many elements of the event starting with the food featuring the culinary works of chef Margarita Fores. Manila’s most fashionable crowd was treated to a modern gastronomic journey as the first part of the Archives experience.
Opening the show were the musicians from the Manila String Machine, setting the mood as they performed Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Concerto No. 2, “Summer” III. Presto. Throughout the show, they played melodies accompanying the contemporary beats of the music produced by Co, another nod to the future-meets-now theme.
As the fog began to rise, models walked the runway wearing pieces from Memoirs of the Future — a total of 44 looks, divided into segments.
It started with a parade of black, giving a first look at the designer’s take on unconventional proportions. Outerwear was reimagined into oversized pieces with obi belts and curved cut lapels — the designer’s signature touch.
Breaking the dark and gloomy display was a white garb with a dramatically flounced hat. Following it was Co’s play on neutrals and fall dressing. Classic pairings like the black dress with a trench coat and puffer coats and cargo-like pants got a new look with his exploration of structure and silhouettes.
The show ended with a display of his gray designs making it a true fashion display for the cool kids of today.
“When I design, I’m very focused on the silhouette, how the shape looks, how the piece drops on the body, especially, the minor details. Basically, I’m trying to make something that hasn’t been done yet but is still familiar. I try to find the familiarity in the unfamiliar,” Co said.
The collection was made even more unique with the addition of boxing gloves and head gears to some of the pieces. This was another personal stamp of the designer. Prior to becoming a self-taught architect, music producer and designer, he also has a background in boxing.
Another recurring theme in the show is androgyny. A sense of gender neutrality was also present in the models’ makeup via the hands of makeup artist Gery Penaso.
Much like future humans out of hibernation pods, the female and male models sported an elevated bedhead look — burgundy eyes, bleached brows and raw and unpolished hair with metallic tipped nails that completed the whole vibe.
“The collection is very detailed. I want to make sure that we apply it also to the beauty looks,” Penaso said. “It is very rare on the runway to have nails also done. When they all come down to the runway, they look very cohesive”
The fashion presentation ended on a high note with the electrifying performances of Jalen Davis, popularly known as MDMA or Molly, an American recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia, and DJ Patty Tiu who played the coolest music for the night crowd.
Stay updated with Memoirs of the Future by visiting Archives’ official Instagram account@archives.galerie.