2 January 2026
A Sensory Celebration of Filipino Artistry & Flavour
In a world often defined by Western forms and narratives, Mich Dulce has carved a space that is unapologetically Filipino. A Filipino-British milliner, Chevening scholar, and winner of the British Council’s International Young Creative Entrepreneur Award at London Fashion Week 2010, Mich has trained in the ateliers of Chanel, contributed to Balenciaga couture, and mentored the next generation of milliners through the King’s Foundation Métiers d’Art Fellowship. Yet, her work always circles back home, to the Philippines, to the shapes, textures, and memories that define her identity.
Her hats are more than objects; they are speaking forms, each articulating a story of place, ritual, or heritage. The Gumamela Bubbles hat recalls afternoons of childhood play, pounding hibiscus petals into soap-like bubbles. The Ylang-Ylang & Sampaguita hat conjures the fragrance of Manila streets lined with flower vendors, transforming scent into sculptural form.
Inspired by the 'Gumamela Bubbles' hat, the Santa Ana Florale Gin cocktail — 'Bula ng Gumamela' — is a zesty, floral serve.
From Hat to Glass: Translating Art into Taste
Mich’s storytelling extends beyond the visual and tactile. In collaboration with Santa Ana Gin, her floral inspirations became the blueprint for two signature cocktails, crafted with the Filipino botanicals that mirror her hat designs.
Santa Ana Florale Gin, Hibiscus (Gumamela), Calamansi Inspired by the playful Gumamela Bubbles, this cocktail is bright magenta, floral, and citrus-forward. Each sip evokes the vibrancy of the hibiscus and the joy embedded in Mich’s memory-driven design.
Drawing from her identity, Mich translated memories of gathering and mashing hibiscus leaves and petals to create a sticky sap for blowing bubbles into the 'Gumamela Bubbles' hat.
Bula ng Gumamela
Santa Ana Florale Gin, Hibiscus (Gumamela), Calamansi Inspired by the playful Gumamela Bubbles, this cocktail is bright magenta, floral, and citrus-forward. Each sip evokes the vibrancy of the hibiscus and the joy embedded in Mich’s memory-driven design.
Sumpa Kita
Santa Ana Florale Gin, Mango, Sampaguita Meaning “I promise you,” this aromatic cocktail channels the soft elegance of the Ylang-Ylang & Sampaguita hat. Mango sweetness meets the delicate scent of sampaguita and the heady floral notes of Santa Ana’s signature Ylang Ylang, creating a drink as sophisticated and evocative as Mich’s artistry.
Together with Chef Jen Gerodias who curated complementary dishes for the exhibition, and Gab Villareal, who captured every detail through photography, the collaboration becomes a fully sensory experience—a tasting of heritage, memory, and craft.
Mango sweetness meets the delicate scent of sampaguita and the heady floral notes of Santa Ana Florale Gin's signature Ylang Ylang. The 'Sumpa Kita' cocktail is inspired by Mich’s 'Ylang-Ylang & Sampaguita' hat.
A Manifesto of Filipino Creativity
For Mich Dulce, Nagsasalitang Ulo is a declaration. It is a demonstration that Filipino identity in fashion is not only possible but essential. It challenges the dominance of Western forms while celebrating the Philippines’ own natural materials, rituals, and aesthetics.
For Santa Ana Gin, collaborating with Mich was an invitation to participate in this dialogue. Their Florale Gin, distilled with native botanicals and crafted using perfume techniques, became an extension of Mich’s storytelling—a way to translate the scents, colors, and textures of her hats into taste.
The exhibition, the cocktails, the food, the photography—they all converge to create a multi-sensory narrative, one where Filipino artistry is not merely displayed but lived, savored, and remembered.
Mich Dulce’s journey reminds us that heritage is not static; it is a living, breathing, and evolving form. And in the hands of a true artist, even a hat—or a cocktail—can speak volumes about who we are.
My whole training from working in France, New York, the UK… It’s always about the West. I really wanted to show my own narrative, our own narrative when it comes to millinery. Pictured: The Ylang-Ylang & Sampaguita hat.
A Modern Collaboration in Full Bloom
Carrying this legacy forward, Santa Ana Gin recently unveiled a captivating collaboration with renowned Filipino-British milliner Mich Dulce — a Chevening scholar and winner of the British Council’s International Young Creative Entrepreneur award at London Fashion Week 2010.
Together, they celebrate Filipino artistry through a stunning fusion of cocktails and couture. Each creation is inspired by Mich’s intricate floral designs and Santa Ana’s signature botanicals — an homage to both craftsmanship and culture.
