Fashion meets art this August as Nicholas Tan, the millennial founder behind accessories and handbag label AUPEN, debuts his maiden solo exhibition and exclusive pop‑up at 125 PROJECTS in Mandaluyong City. Opening on August 18, 2026, the showcase transforms the gallery into a full‑scale exploration of Tan’s creative vision, running until August 30, 2026.
Best known for founding AUPEN, the independent fashion house whose bags have been carried by global icons like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Hailey Bieber, and Olivia Rodrigo, Tan now extends his sculptural language beyond accessories. His Manila exhibition collapses the boundaries between fashion, design, and contemporary art, asking what happens when form is freed from function and to a certain extent, made more fun and interactive.
Photos courtesy of @aupenofficial on Instagram
At the center of the show is a recurring silhouette derived from AUPEN’s iconic Purpose bag. Once designed to be carried, the shape now reappears across sculpture, canvas, and text, raising questions about memory, meaning, and transformation. For Tan, it’s about proving that design doesn’t lose significance when stripped of utility — it simply evolves.
When asked about the wu lou‑shaped art piece and the iconic Purpose bag, Tan reflected on how his journey began three years ago: “This art piece is inspired by something similar in my grandma’s home where I first started the AUPEN brand three years ago. This exhibition takes from the Purpose bag. It strips the function away and explores what it looks like in sculptures, in fabrics, and different canvasses,” he shared.
The piece is more than just a nod to his roots. It’s a statement about transformation and how a silhouette once designed to be carried can evolve into a symbol, a memory, or even a work of art when freed from its original function.
The exhibition also highlights AUPEN’s distinct position in global luxury. With limited distribution worldwide — available only at Le Bon Marché Paris, the Singapore Workshop, and now Manila — AUPEN has quickly risen as a brand to watch. Backed by a craftsmanship partnership with LVMH Métiers d’Art, the label recently ranked #3 on eBay’s S/S 2026 Watchlist, with search demand surging by 317%.
For Manila fans, the pop‑up offers a rare chance to shop Tan’s highly coveted designs. Two Manila Exclusive purple Nirvana bags headline the selection, including a limited edition of only 125 pieces worldwide, each signed by Tan as a tribute to 125 PROJECTS. The sought‑after Purpose bag will also be available in three new colorways: Black, Tweed Blue, and Tweed Sakura.
There’s also an interactive area where visitors get a chance to win an AUPEN charm just from playing a ring-toss game!
As a millennial himself, Tan’s journey resonates with a generation navigating creative reinvention and global ambition. His Manila debut marks not just a milestone in his career, but also a statement about how millennial designers are reshaping the future of luxury, blending art, fashion, and cultural storytelling into one.
The exhibit will be open to the public from August 18 to August 30, 2026 at 125 PROJECTS, NBS Park, 125 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.
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Bata pa pala ng founder ng AUPEN. Swerte ng makakapunta.