About
Esme Palaganas (b. 1993) is an interdisciplinary professional and strategist. Her particular interests and production projects lies in the intersection of fashion, culture, and innovation. In 2021, she started her Masters in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership from Bayes Business School – City University of London through the Chevening Scholarship.
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Executive and Education. She is a cofounder of PHx Fashion Group, an events and education fashion organization with coverage from the Philippines, Japan and Singapore, and founder of Basic Movement, a boutique design initiative that collaborates with artists and artisans. She is the lead lecturer of the Fashion Marketing elective at De La Salle University Manila, was a mentor for the incubation space of De La Salle – College of St. Benilde and Philippine Commission on Women.
Creative and Design. As a creative and designer, she has done fashion shows and events in Malaysia and the Philippines, has worked with brands such as Melissa Shoes and L’Oreal, and garnered design awards in the field of fashion. Her designs have been stocked in designer boutiques such as Lanai Manila and Comme Ci and are available in limited releases at select stores and platforms.
Policy and Advocacy. Esme is a Philippine representative at the UNCTAD eTrade for Women. She is a founding Board Member, founding Special Projects Chairperson and current Policy and Planning Chairperson of Philippine Fashion Coalition, the fashion and design business support organization of the Philippines. She contributed to discussions and research of the Fashion and Design industries in aid of the passing of the RA11904 or the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act. She is one of the main proponents of Dama Ko Lahi Ko, a grassroots movement that earned a distinction at PR Awards Singapore.
Research and Writing. Currently, she is finishing her Masters in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership with a focus on Digital Assets and Web3. She is the Special Projects Manager of the Centre of Creativity in Professional Practice at the United Kingdom. Esme contributes as a writer for Philippine Star and Vogue Philippines.
For consulting work & other inquiries, you can reach her at esme@basicmovement.ph
Teaching
(2022) Visiting Lecturer – Fashion Marketing, Department of Advertising and Marketing – Undergraduates, De La Salle University – Manila, Philippines
Education
(2021-) MICL in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership, City University of London (Cass Business School) – London, United Kingdom
(2018-) MSc in Entrepreneurship, De La Salle University – Manila, Philippines
(2014) BA in Fashion Design & Merchandising (with Honors) De La Salle – College of St. Benilde, Philippines
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
(2021) Policy & Planning Committee Chairperson, Philippine Fashion Coalition
(2020) Board of Trustees, Founding Special Projects Committee Chairman, Philippine Fashion Coalition
(2020) e-Trade for Women ASEAN Cohort, United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD)
(2018) Council Member, Fashion Design Council of the Philippines
Design Awards
(2020) Mega Magazine, The NEW PH , Philippines
(2017) Bench Design Awards, Finalist, Philippines
(2017) KL Fashion Week – AARDS, Philippine Representative, Malaysia
(2016) Philippine Fashion Ball, Special Recognition for Design, Philippines
(2016) Metro Awards, Best Young Designer Brand, Philippines
(2016) Preview Top Collection, FW 2016, Philippines
(2015) Preview Top Collection, FW 2015, Philippines
(2014) Mega Magazine, New/Upcoming Designer, Philippines
(2014) Preview Emerging Fashion Talent Awards, Philippines
Producing Projects
(2021) Wear Your Story – T-Shirt Exhibit (Online and Onsite, Powerplant Mall)
(2021) Dama Ko, Lahi Ko, Independence Day Campaign w/ Filipino Culture Collective (Partner Matching)
(2020) PH x Fashion Talks: Mentorship (Online)
(2020) PH x Fashion Conversations: Serious Studio (Online)
(2020) PH x Fashion Conversations: Monday Off (Online)
(2020) Fashion Forward Dialogues, w/ FDCP and SoFA (Online)
(2019) PH x Fashion Conference: Japan (Onsite)
(2019) Basic Movement Club: Indigo Dye Workshop c/o NAMARABAR (Onsite)
(2018) Basic Movement Club: Conversations on Fashion & Business (Onsite)
(2018) Basic Movement Club: Commune Pop Up (Onsite)
(2017-18) Basic Movement Club: Designer Pop Ups (Onsite)
Consulting
(2020) Hub of Innovation for Inclusion, De La Salle – College of St. Benilde
(2019-20) Philippine Commission on Women
(2018) Una Weaves
(2018) Tiesto Apparel Manufacturing Inc.,
(2014) Tiesto Apparel Manufacturing Inc.,
Academic Papers & Conferences / Articles / Speaking Engagements
(2021) “Prosperity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship” Guest Speaker, University College London, London, United Kingdom
(2021) “Philippine Natural Textiles & the Fashion Industry” DOST – Philippine Textile Research Institute, Philippines
(2021) “Eyes on Asia: Textiles and Identity: Future Proofing Our Textiles” Asia Society, Manila, Philippines
(2021) Moderator, National Commission on Culture and the Arts, Philippines
(2021) Rediscovering the Modern Filipino, Philippines Star (Print & Online)
(2019) ‘Green, Organic Cosmetics Purchasing Behaviors of Residents in the Philippines’ (Presenter and Co-authors with Ayson, C., Balarbar, M., Tremedal, J.) 7th National Business and Management Conference, De La Salle University Manila & Holy Angel University, Philippines
(2019) Cultural Partners Consultation, Department of Foreign Affairs, Manila City, Philippines
(2019 “Corporate Entrepreneurship within Filipino Sustainable Brands” (Authors: Cablizo, R. Palaganas, E)
(2019) E-commerce connecting Filipino Fashion Producers and MSMEs, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development – ASEAN, Makati City, Philippines
(2019) “Entrepreneurial E-commerce: Chat bots in the Philippines”
(2018) “Brand Trust, Smart Shopping and Filipino Multichannel Purchase Intentions”,
(2018) “Fashion Design Council of the Philippines: Relevance & A Marketing Study”
(2018) “Corporate Entrepreneurship in Philippine Fashion Week”