Celebrated couturier Michael Leyva is the first to remind anyone that his phenomenal rise in the industry began with his standing on the shoulders of his Kuya Brian. Brian’s tragic encounter with muggers ended a promising future in fashion 15 years ago, prompting the younger Leyva to pick up where his beloved brother left off and construct for himself a career creating finery coveted by the most recognizable names in the country.

While “Memoria ng Hardin” was the culmination of this year’s two-day “Weddings at The Peninsula and More” bridal fair, Leyva’s 2026 couture collection, presented

under the brassy sheen of National Artist for sculpture Napoleon Abueva’s ceiling sculpture “Sunburst,” is more than just a sartorial pitch for the adventurous bride, but a heartfelt “testament to the transformative power of love and legacy.”

According to the statement, “every stitch, fold, and delicate detail is a labor of love, weaving a narrative of gratitude, remembrance, and celebration.”

“I’m really very excited about this new collection because it’s my first collection where I did not use any beadwork or sparkles, so it’s a new take for me,” Leyva told Lifestyle.

That is not to say the collection lacked luster.

Without the characteristic bling, the gowns and suits glowed in a different way, with the designer flexing his range in terms of artistry and acumen. Abloom with floral and vine motifs to varying degrees, the 37-piece collection showcased styles from classic to contemporary, vintage to visionary, delicate to daring, sleek or structural to froufrou or flowy.

His devotion to details and embellishment persists through rich—and sometimes haunting—color choices as well as fabric manipulation to create texture, volume, and movement, filled with notions of the fragility of life and the endurance of love.