Following a successful partnership with SB19, fashion designer Chynna Mamawal has teamed up with P-Pop girl group KAIA for a special clothing line for her ready-to-wear brand, Wear Casa.
KAIA is a five-member girl group that debuted under ShowBT Entertainment, the same company behind SB19.
The group consists of Alexa, Angela, Charice, Charlotte, and Sophia.
Chynna and KAIA personally showcased their limited-edition merch at a fashion show held on August 27, 2024, at Gateway Mall in Quezon City.
After the show, Chynna and KAIA shared more details about their collaboration with the press, including PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
Chynna said the collection was made to provide versatile and comfy clothes for KAIA's fans, Zaia, so they can feel more connected to the group.
She said, "We wanted to make something na stylish, trendy and yung madaling i-mix and match.
"Yung puwedeng suotin pang-everyday, puwede pang-school, puwede pang-date, pang-workout or puwede rin pang-family day.
"Yung hindi mahirap bagayan, very simple but stylish... and yung personality nating lahat is nandito kasi design ko and design ng KAIA... and yung color combinations pinag-isipan namin nang mabuti."
Read: SB19 creates limited-edition premium collection with fashion designer Chynna Mamawal
CHYNNA MAMAWAL: P-POP RISE
Chynna is committed to joining the "P-Pop Rise" movement to promote local talents in both music and fashion.
This commitment is also her main motivation for collaborating with KAIA.
She elaborated, "I really like P-Pop, especially... the one with SB19, with my experience with them because I feel like, di ba may K-pop, may J-pop. P-pop is sa atin, e, P-pop is ours.
"So dapat lang, we support them. And dapat we collaborate with them because we're both Filipinos.
"I love collaborating with them because I feel like ito yung genre that we started and it's a movement na sila yung nagli-lead, e. So I want to be part of that kasi nakaka-inspire."
The project serves as a platform for Chynna to refine her fashion design skills.
By exploring and sharing her perspective on street style, she steps away from her traditional aesthetic as a bespoke suit and gown designer, embracing a new creative challenge.
Chynna further explained, "As an artist, you're always evolving with your music, with fashion. Same with me, because my forte is really custom-made gowns and suits, di ba? But as an artist, you always want to challenge yourself.
"So, this is my version of street style. This is my version of Y2K and my version of casual. So, I'm very happy with the result kasi this is all of us put together as one.
"And I was really amazed with them kasi they're very tedious of every detail. Even yung, as you can see, yung mga colors ng embroidery iba-iba.
"So, merong white, merong blue, merong... May grey pa sa ibang [shirt], may grey. So, I was surprised kasi nag-click lang talaga kami."
CHYNNA MAMAWAL X KAIA MERCH LINE
Chynna and KAIA's collaboration was three years in the making.
The fashion designer revealed that she initially had the idea to launch a merch line with a girl group back in 2021.
However, the group had not officially debuted yet at that time, but the members had already served as models for SB19's merch with Wear Casa.
Chynna told PEP, "Actually, ever since the SB19 collaboration...
"They were the models of SB19 collaboration din kasi, so we were very happy with the result of SB19 collab.
"So, I personally wanted to do it with a girl group then, and I think they're the perfect P-pop group to collaborate with.
"And it's been mga two, one year ago that we've been, you know, we've been wanting to do this, it was just an idea.
"Pero this year parang we said, 'Okay, this is the time that we really have to do it.'"
It wasn't until early this year that they finally decided to move forward with the project, dedicating over three months to the pre-production process.
Chynna continued, "So, we've been doing this for a few months now, the back and forth, the fitting, the choosing of fabrics, exchanging ideas, choosing the right fabric.
"It's been few months, about three months, four, two to three, somewhere there.
"But we're still, yes, but it's been in the works. It's been na pag-usap-usapan na since last year, two years ago.
"It's been there. We're just waiting for the right time to do it."
When asked why she likes KAIA and what led her to collaborate with them for this limited-edition merch line, she answered, "Actually, I like the aesthetic of the girls, number one. [And] they're very talented. They're very passionate.
"Sobrang gaan... Ang bilis nila bihisan. It's so easy to dress them up. And it's so light to work with them.
"Parang nag-click lang talaga kami. And this is the result already. So I'm very happy with the collaboration.
"And I think they represent, you know, the teenagers ng mga girls. For me, maganda silang example to the young generation."
KAIA'S STYLE EVOLUTION
KAIA members also shared their style inspirations.
Alexa draws from gothic and punk rock, while Angela loves Japanese kawaii style and is inspired by BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim.
Charlotte is similarly inclined towards Japanese fashion. Charice also cites Jennie Kim as her fashion muse.
Meanwhile, Sophia often opts for an off-duty model look, taking cues from Hailey Baldwin, Kendall Jenner, and BINI Aiah.
When asked about the evolution of their personal style over the years, Angela mentioned that social media played a significant role in shaping their current style preferences.
Angela said, "Like before, personally I like parang mas comfortable, like big shirt or big wide-leg pants. But right now, maybe it's because of what you watch. Lalo na sa social media, what you see, it influences you a lot.
"So I think, nag-evolve siya into something na very me. And constant yung change. So I think mag-evolve ko siya in the coming years."
Sophia echoed Angela's sentiments, adding that their group's stylists have also guided them through their fashion journey.
Sophia told the press, "I think kung paano nag-evolve yung style ko is becoming an artist kasi. You're exposed to different events, to different environments.
"And siyempre, hindi naman puwede isang outfit na talaga yung suot mo. So tulad sa KAIA, we also have our own stylist.
"So siya po kasi tumutulong sa amin like tingnan kung ano yung babagay sa amin.
"So with that one, parang nakikilala rin namin sarili namin, 'Oh, ito pala bagay sa amin. Maybe I can try this, try to wear this every day.'
"Parang ganun. So with the help of the people around us din talaga."
Chynna said their merch line will initially follow a pre-order system to promote sustainability.
Both Chynna and KAIA will provide further information about the merch line on their official websites: kaiaofficial.ph and wearcasa.co.
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