Fashion is in constant search of the new.
From style trends and forecasts season after season to up-and-coming models, photographers, makeup artists, stylists and designers, there is an endless list of names waiting to be called into the spotlight.
The Philippines is a treasure trove of promising design talent, ready and waiting to be discovered like diamonds in the rough. Sparking from the island of Cebu is up-and-coming young fashion designer Mia Arcenas. Breaking into Philippine fashion, the next to watch in the scene recently had her first gala in cooperation with Zee Lifestyle at the Oakridge Pavilion in Cebu. The successful and well-attended event was filled with the city’s legitimate A-listers, stylesetters and fashion insiders as the “new brilliant gem of the south†presented her 55-piece Spring/Summer 2014 collection.
Inspired by nature, the astounding exposition of contemporary creations displayed astute references from the ‘50s and ‘70s in full, feminine and languid silhouettes. Channeling global sensibilities and refinement, a majestic parade of beautiful luxe fabrications was a sight to behold. Floral, animal and geometric prints fused with artisanal touches created noteworthy modern statement pieces that are definitely on the radar.
What sets this rising star apart from her contemporaries is her brilliance and mark of distinction in designing and making her own fabrication. Equally exemplary as her ready-to-wear pieces are her breathtaking one-of-a-kind accessories. These standout masterpieces, as seen on jewelry and bags, are from high-quality materials made in up-to-date designs.
The designer’s birth into fashion is no accident but an amazing testament of destiny unfolding. Growing up with a family that has been in the export business of handbags and fashion accessories for more than two decades (Ferimar Inc., one of the leading export brands in the Philippines to Europe) has exposed the artist into a world that would breathe life into her passion. Creativity and the zest for style run through her veins.
At 13, she began designing accessories for Ferimar Inc. and later on expanded into ready-to-wear apparel. This summa cum laude graduate of Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles (with a degree in Apparel Manufacturing Management) came back to Manila and took the post of vice president and creative director of the family business. The proud daughter of Rosendo Arcenas and Maria Iris Fernan-Arcenas is slowly carving a name in the industry and has recently come into her own as a fashion designer.
Thus in 2011, the eponymous Mia Arcenas brand was born. Her first major exposure was at the first trade show of the prestigious Manila FAME in March 2013 as part of the Designer Zone. Since then, the brand has been participating in international trade exhibitions in fashion capitals such as Paris, Milan, Rome and Hong Kong. Capturing a wide client base in Europe, US and Asia, it’s only a matter of time until the brand finally appears on the pages of top glossies and magazines all over the world.
The essence of Mia Arcenas is all about fashioning one-of-a-kind, chic, quality clothing and accessories for women. Where style is in the detail and quality is beyond the standard, special materials such as silk, crystals, fresh water pearls, semi-precious stones and metals make every creation a work of art that’s proudly 100-percent handmade in the Philippines. The young visionary’s substance goes beyond skin deep. She lives her passion with social awareness by providing jobs to a group of men (inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center), livelihood for women from different parts of Cebu island and supporting Building Bridges Philippines (a foundation of her cousin Matteo Guidicelli).
In the ever-changing world of fashion, the promising designer is set on creating an impact in the global fashion industry. “My vision is to make use of our country’s craftsmanship and natural resources, to show the rest of the world a new wave of modern and classic design — that is purely made in the Philippines,†says Mia, 23. A role model for the youth of today, Mia is a modest and grounded artist whose designing dreams shape a better tomorrow.
(The Mia Arcenas showroom is located at Ferimar Bldg., Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City. The brand is available in Australia, Japan, Maldives, Morocco and Thailand. It is also available in the Philippines in luxury hotels and resorts such as Shangri-La, Crimson, Alegre, Discovery Shores and Amanpulo.
For inquiries, call 032-231-4275 or visit www.miaarcenas.com.)
Photography by mau aguasin • Creative direction and styling by Luis Espiritu Jr. • Associate styling by tara subaldo and jona buenaventura • Makeup and hairstyling by romero • Model: RACEENE • Shot on location at Ibiza beach club, mövenpicK HOTEL MACTAN ISLAND CEBU (www.moevenpick-hotels.com) • Special thanks to laurie reyes, pazu and meg eteve, the staff and management of mövenpicK HOTEL MACTAN ISLAND CEBU