Vogue Philippines Editor-in-Chief, Bea Valdes Joins Regional Vogue Editors at “Hands Across Culture” in Bangkok

Vogue Philippines Editor-in-Chief Bea Valdes represented the Philippines on the international stage as she took part in the panel discussion “Wearing Our Story: Craft, Fashion & The Editorial Lens” at Hands Across Culture, a global symposium held in Bangkok, Thailand, spotlighting craft, cultural exchange, and the future of fashion. She was joined by Vogue Thailand Editor-in-Chief Kullawit Laosuksri and Vogue Singapore Editor-in-Chief Desmond Lim, bringing together leading editorial voices from the region.

As Vogue Philippines’ Editor-in-Chief, Valdes has long championed the intersection of heritage, sustainability, and design. Her craft-driven artistry and editorial expertise—celebrating Filipino identity and global Filipino creativity—have positioned her as a powerful voice in the regional dialogue.

Reflecting on the magazine’s beginnings, she shared: “Before Vogue Philippines started, the country was asking questions about identity, so we began exploring those questions and found our answers in community, craft, and culture. On the first day of a nine-day shoot, our photographer gathered the team and said, ‘We are doing this to show the world how beautiful the Philippines is.’ From that moment, I’ve come to see the character of Vogue Philippines as adventurous, curious, and inclusive.”

The discussion highlighted the balance between business priorities and cultural storytelling. Vogue Thailand’s Editor-in-Chief Kullawit Laosuksri shared: “Running a magazine is also a business, so balancing commercial partnerships with editorial vision is more challenging than ever. But embracing our own cultural identity, whether through language, traditions, or perspective is essential.”

Vogue Singapore’s Editor-in-Chief Desmond Lim outlined their forward-looking editorial strategy. He explained that when Vogue Singapore launched, the team focused on innovation and technology to explore new ways of storytelling. Their projects included a thermal cover that reacts to touch and an NFC-embedded cover that plays a 19th-century Southeast Asian soundscape: “We each had to try out almost everything with a forward-looking perspective. Singapore is a country that’s naturally positioned to be future-focused, and that’s reflected in how Vogue Singapore approaches storytelling and design.”

Valdes, Lim, and Laosuksri also explored how Southeast Asia’s diverse craft traditions—such as Thai indigo dyeing, Filipino weaving, and Singapore’s multicultural heritage—continue to shape global narratives by grounding contemporary design in deep cultural memory. Their discussion highlighted how editors amplify local voices, navigate digital transformation, and advocate for sustainable, ethical storytelling, while highlighting Southeast Asia’s interconnected heritage and collective commitment to elevating these stories globally.

Through her contribution to Hands Across Culture, Valdes reinforced the Philippines’ essential place in regional and global creative conversations. Her perspective reflects Vogue Philippines’ ongoing mission to bridge tradition and innovation, celebrating Filipino identity through stories that resonate internationally.

Photo courtesy of Vogue Thailand.