Fashioning a legacy: Jozel Ignes’ return to his roots

Returning to his hometown of Santo Niño in South Cotabato was one of the best decisions Jozel Ignes ever made. Fueled by a passion to uplift his beloved town, Ignes turned to fashion design as his canvas. Through his creations, he not only gives back to the community but also highlights the unique charm and cultural richness of Santo Niño.

From a young age, Ignes knew he wanted to become a fashion designer, inspired by his cousin who was already in the field. Initially, he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Painting at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City. However, after a year, he realized that painting did not fully satisfy his creative aspirations. He longed to bring his visions to life on fabric rather than canvas.

Ignes persuaded his father to let him switch programs, eventually gaining his approval to transfer. He then enrolled at the Philippine Women’s College (PWC) in Davao City, where he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major in Fashion Design.

During his college years in Davao, Ignes emerged as one of the promising young designers, earning recognition for his talent. He actively participated in various fashion events in the city to showcase his creations. 

One notable example was his batch's thesis project in the BFA Fashion Design Program, which highlighted the 11 tribes of Davao City. This project was showcased during the PWC Fashion Design Show 2015 at the Abreeza Mall Activity Center. The batch drew inspiration from the artisanal heritage of the city's tribes to create the "Thesis Capsule Apparel Collection."

Before creating their modern-ethnic and awe-inspiring fashion design pieces, the students had to channel their creativity to reimagine details from ethnic attire, giving them a fresh, contemporary look.

Ignes deconstructed the armalis motif of the Sama tribe, transforming its curvilinear pattern into hard-edged geometric shapes reminiscent of Tetris. He strategically cut panels to incorporate these patterns into his apparel. His edgy and sporty collection was awarded “Best in Runway Appeal Presentation.”

In 2014, Ignes won the Fashion Accessory Grand Prize at the Mindanao Trade Expo. This achievement led to further