British elegance in full bloom

‘Jardin du Soleil’ brings together British-inspired tailoring and tropical colors as Atelier Debbie Co marks its 21st year

Debbie Co lets London dream blossom in the tropics

For 21 years, Debbie Co has dressed women for life’s milestones, from proms to weddings. With Jardin du Soleil, her latest Resort ‘26 collection, the designer looks back on the influence of her years in London while creating pieces she hopes women will wear beyond landmark occasions.

Kris Bernal looks elegant in a red floral gown with a fitted bodice and sweeping skirt 

Cheska (right) and Kendra Kramer grace the launching of Debbie Co’s newest collection

Coleen Garcia dazzles in a black-and-gold sleeveless gown with a belted waist and full skirt from Debbie Co’s Resort ’26 collection

The collection marks Atelier Debbie Co’s 21st anniversary and revisits the designer’s time at Central Saint Martins in London, where she studied in 2005. Drawing from British elegance and tradition, Co reinterprets those influences through tropical colors, lighter fabrics, and relaxed silhouettes for the modern Filipina.

“While studying at CSM in London back in 2005, I was very fascinated by British affluence, culture, and elegance. So, I thought of reimagining it with the softness of the tropics, like the colors,” Co said during the collection launch.

The contrast runs throughout the collection. Tailored day dresses, soft corsetry, pleats, and puff sleeves are paired with botanical prints inspired by hibiscus, palm leaves, and other tropical blooms. Shades of coral, mango, golden yellow, green, and ivory give the pieces a bright, garden-inspired palette while maintaining the polished look associated with British dressing.

The Resort ’26 collection is designed for women to wear across casual gatherings, celebrations, and other occasions 

Co said every collection begins with the women who will wear the clothes. Beyond staying true to the atelier’s signature style, she considers how each silhouette can flatter different body types while remaining versatile enough for more than one occasion.

Several looks were designed as separates that can be mixed and matched. A top can be paired with white trousers for a casual lunch, while a corset can be styled for an evening cocktail or a formal event.

“You know, not just to save pieces for the grander moments of life, but also for the quieter moments. We encourage dressing as a sort of experience rather than just a celebration,” she shared.

The atelier’s focus on dressing women beyond formal occasions has also shaped its relationship with clients over the past two decades.

Co recalled seeing families return through different stages of life, from young girls visiting the studio with their mothers and grandmothers to later commissioning prom dresses, bridal gowns, and outfits for their own children.

“We’ve actually made dresses for, well, I mean, we made their prom dresses, and now they’re having their bridal gowns made,” the designer said.

For Co, the anniversary is less about looking back than recognizing the role the atelier has played in generations of family celebrations.

Through Jardin du Soleil, she revisits one of her earliest creative influences while continuing to design pieces meant to become part of those memories.

The Resort ‘26 collection is available at Atelier Debbie Co at Proscenium and at the brand’s pop-up in Power Plant Mall, Rockwell, which will run through September 2026. — Angelica Villanueva