Filipina designer advances to sustainable fashion award top 10
Mara San Pedro | Photo from animara.byamara/Instagram
Filipina designer Mara San Pedro has been selected as one of the 10 finalists in the prestigious Redress Design Award 2025, becoming the only Filipino to advance this far in one of the world’s leading sustainable fashion competitions.
In a recent announcement posted on their website and social media, Redress revealed its 10 finalists out of a pool of 30 semifinalists, selected from applicants across 48 countries.
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San Pedro stood out with her resourceful use of Filipino textiles blended into contemporary silhouettes. Her design narrative intertwines cultural identity with circular fashion, celebrating heritage while steering it towards a sustainable future.
Representing the Philippines, San Pedro is currently pursuing a degree in Fashion Design Technology at the London College of Fashion. Her work is more than just aesthetically forward as it’s an embodiment of design with intention.
Known for her commitment to upcycling and zero-waste practices, the young Filipina designer believes that “sustainability doesn’t sacrifice the design process, but instead enhances it.”
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Her label, Animara by Mara, brings to life pieces made from textile waste, a creative protest against fast fashion and excessive consumption.
Now, San Pedro joins her fellow finalists in preparing for the next stage: the Grand Final Fashion Show set to take place in Hong Kong this September.
Ahead of the show, the finalists will participate in an intensive educational bootcamp focused on sustainable design practices. They will be staying at Dash Living, Hong Kong, while receiving mentorship and industry insights.
The final prize includes the opportunity to have the winning collection showcased at the Greenext Expo in Shanghai, one-on-one mentorship by renowned designer Flora Cheong-Leen to co-create an exclusive upcycled retail piece and a development fund of HK$50,000 (around US$6,400), supported by the Tian Art Foundation.
