Q+A with Aijalon Gandionco
Parsons BFA 2026
BARKADA 64
In Next Gen / No Kill, we spotlight standout fashion graduates whose work opens up new conversations and possibilities. From New York’s top programs and beyond, these are the designers shaping a future of fashion defined by intelligence, creativity, and intention.
What is the inspiration or concept behind your collection?
BARKADA 64 is a five look collection that utilizes a system I designed myself, in which fish skin from the fishing industry in my hometown, Jacksonville, Florida, is processed into fish skin leather. As a daughter of a fisherman, I grew up going to the beach every Sunday. I wanted to reflect on those memories, as well as the idea that everything can be used at least one more time. The idea of reuse and repurposing was nothing new to me; In fact, it was a large part of growing up as a Filipino-American. While it took form in reusing old clothes as cleaning rags, or cookie tins as sewing supply storage, I wanted to bring this integral part of my childhood into my collection.
To create fish skin leather, I delved into research and interviews with designers such as Isabelle Taylor, who utilizes fish skin in her work. I was able to talk to Janey Chang, a fish skin tanner that had her own unique connection to Salmon. Through my dad, I connected to Southern Provisions, a fishery in Jacksonville that distributes their products to local restaurants. After preparing the fish, they saved and froze the skins for me. My dad sent them over to New York, where I began the tanning process that used donated egg yolks from my professor, Tiffany Hwang. The accompanying materials were all sourced second hand, mostly from donations and almost entirely free. I then treated them with indigo dye that I got from my professor Kip Kirkendall, or from onion skin dye created from onion skins donated to me by my friends.
I wanted to show that full sustainability is possible within fashion, that community and connections can be created through sourcing, and that everything can be transformed.
What’s one material or technique you’re currently obsessed with?
Of course, I’ve been obsessed with the process of fish skin tanning. It originates from indigenous practices from tribes such the Ainu from Japan and Inuit from Arctic Canada. There’s also different ways of tanning, but my favorite is egg yolk and oil tanning, which is one of the most accessible. I’ve also been interested in biomaterials and have considered trying to incorporate other waste products in the fishing industry in my material process.
What does fashion mean to you today?
Fashion to me is an opportunity for experimentation and exploration. It’s often easy to think of fashion as the kind commonly seen on red carpets and catwalks, but there is so much more involved with fashion than just face value. My goal within fashion is to bring sustainability into a large scale context, and to collaborate with other industries to reduce waste from both.
What’s one thing you wish the fashion industry would leave behind—and one thing it should embrace?
I wish the fashion industry would leave behind cutting corners, particularly with sourcing material and labor costs. Fast fashion has been at an all-time rise, and we as consumers have forgotten that the material comes from somewhere, and that the labor required to create clothing is 100% human. A human has touched every single garment that you wear.
I hope that in the future the fashion industry can embrace new ideas on sustainability, to value hand craft and designers that design for the future. Currently, the industry is only concerned with the “buy now” ideology, but what if clothes were designed to last? Or for clothes to biodegrade? I hope fashion thinks of clothes as a lifecycle rather than a one time purchase or profit.
Who or what has shaped your design values most?
While I’ve been inspired by designers such as Martin Margiela and Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada, the person that has shaped my design values the most would have to be my dad. His creativity and ways to solve problems has always been something I have admired a lot. Growing up, he would help me sew stuffed animals and cosplay clothes on my old singer machine. Oftentimes, we didn’t have the necessary materials to make what I wanted, but he always made it happen with what we have. This idea of resourcefulness has carried into how I design, and has been a part of my design ethos for years. My dad has always encouraged me to create. I think that’s one of the most important parts to who I am as a designer.
If you could design for anyone in the world, who would it be—and why?
This is a pretty tough question. In terms of brands or fashion houses, I would have to say that I would have loved to design for Maison Margiela when it was run by Martin Margiela. I love some of his old runway shows such as his Spring/Summer 1990 show. I really enjoy how he incorporated a lot of ready-made items and used them artistically, valuing authenticity over just glamour. As for people in general, I would like to design for customers who value material heritage and craftsmanship. I’d love to create a line that’s sustainable but accessible.
Three things keeping you sane right now
One thing that’s keeping me sane would have to be music, more specifically I’ve been really interested in making music! It’s definitely a different creative process than what I’m used to, but I’m enjoying trying new hobbies and learning new skills. Another would be my extensive reading list, since post-college I’ve been able to get back into reading on the train! Lastly, I’d say just experiencing and exploring new things and places with my friends and partner. While I’m still working my two jobs and internship, it’s been really nice to go out, cook, or travel upstate with them.
One word to describe your design approach:
Resourceful
Where can we find you online?
You can find me on Instagram @aijaportfolio or on my website, aijalongandionco.com.
More about my thesis can be found on the Parsons BFA website!
Editorial photos by Salem Dyroff
