When his younger sister wanted to attend her school’s Junior and Senior Prom but their family could not afford to rent a ball gown, Maverick Francisco Oyao decided to make one himself.
Maverick, a student taking up Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education, had no formal training in fashion design. But with his sister determined to attend the milestone event, he took on the challenge of creating a gown from scratch.
In a social media post, Oyao shared how the project began after the school announced its upcoming prom. His sister was excited to participate, especially as it was her final year in junior high school. However, the cost of renting a required ball gown posed a challenge for their family.
After considering the possibility of making the dress themselves, Oyao began researching different gown designs through YouTube and Google. He also drew inspiration from the Spring and Summer collections of Filipino fashion designer Michael Cinco as he developed his concept.
The result was a blue-and-white gown with a winter-inspired design, featuring large sleeves and intricate details. Oyao worked on the dress for approximately a week, hand-painting portions of the fabric and adding flowers and beads to complete the look. He also credited his mother and others who helped provide materials and financial support to finish the gown on time.
Despite his doubts about completing the project, Oyao was pleased with the final outcome—and, most importantly, his sister was able to attend prom wearing a gown made especially for her.
In his post, Oyao described the experience as another opportunity to make his youngest sibling happy, reaffirming his commitment to supporting her. Although she did not win the school’s Best Dress recognition, he said he considered it the best gown because she was the one wearing it.
The story is a reminder that creativity can emerge from unexpected places. For Oyao, the project was not about professional design experience or an expensive outfit, but about finding a way to help his sister take part in a moment she had been looking forward to.
And sometimes, a handmade gown can mean far more than anything rented off the rack.