Art finds form in Anca and Martina Lebron’s new limited-edition capsule collection.
There’s a particular kind of fashion collaboration that deviates from mere business arrangement, becoming, instead, a fitting alignment of artistic sensibilities. That’s more or less how the new Anca x Martina Lebron collection came to be.
Soon to be unveiled in Manila this month, the limited-edition capsule merges the silhouettes of Anca (the Manila-based label known for its primly glamorous design sensibilities) with designs by visual artist and Lifestyle Asia’s very own March issue cover star, Martina Lebron. The result sits between art piece and wardrobe staple: garments that are relaxed enough for daytime, yet polished enough for evenings and special occasions.
READ MORE: The Adorned and Glorified World Of Martina Lebron
How Anca x Martina Lebron Started
For Bianca Dumlao, founder and creative director of Anca, the collaboration had been in the back of her mind long before it materialized. She had been collecting Martina’s scarves for years, drawn to their graphic language and painterly quality. The idea of translating those prints onto clothing lingered, if only because they looked too good to remain confined to silk squares.
“I remember telling Martina that I hoped we could collaborate someday,” Bianca shares. “To my surprise, she responded with the same excitement—and it turned out it was also her dream to see her prints live on clothing, not just scarves. Everything unfolded naturally after that.”
What followed was a convergence of two practices. Martina approached the project through image-making: developing prints with the movement of garments in mind, rather than treating them as static surface designs. Bianca, meanwhile, worked through shape and construction, translating the prints onto familiar Anca silhouettes designed to let the imagery breathe while maintaining structure.
Martina’s Homecoming
For Martina, the collaboration also marks something of a reintroduction to Manila. After spending time in the UK, returning to the city felt like the right moment to begin sharing her work again. The distance gave her perspective, and she realized she was ready to start telling her story more directly through what she creates.
Releasing work in the Philippines felt especially important. She wanted the pieces to resonate with the community around her, drawing from familiar references and everyday experiences, rather than presenting something that felt distant or imported. “What I’m putting out now feels like an introduction to who I am and where I’m at creatively. It’s honest, still evolving, and rooted in this moment of returning home and figuring things out,” she says.
Building A Language Of Garments
The collaboration also offered Martina the opportunity to explore clothing more seriously as a medium. She has long admired Bianca’s work, particularly her sensitivity to form and the way her designs balance strength and softness. When the idea of a collaboration surfaced, it felt like a natural step forward.
Beginning in April 2026, the partnership will extend beyond the ready-to-wear capsule. The collaboration’s three prints will be released in extremely limited fabric quantities for bespoke commissions through Anca, allowing clients to request made-to-measure gowns and custom pieces while the textiles remain available.
Photos courtesy of Bianca Dumlao
