Last time we saw Mike Lavarez he was prepping to shoot his campaign video and lookbook for his Philippine Fashion Week Holiday 2012 collection. Now, lo and behold, the final product of his blood and sweat making its way through the runway.

The first time I saw Mike Lavarez’s collection, it was hanging from the racks as we watched him prep for his campaign video and lookbook shoot. I could tell even then that his collection wouldn’t disappoint Fashion Week audiences.

I was right. His tone-on-tone black sleek separates  were a fresh new take on ready-to-wear with leather details and hardware embellishments. Giving us a breath of fresh air with a half-menswear and half-womenswear collection, he steers away from his usual DIY method and conjures something sharp and streamlined. Aside from the clothes, we also took notice of his playlist which we’re definitely putting it on our What We Heard list. Check out the video, and his collection, below.—LADYZAZA

Photographed by Bruce Casanova