Philippine Fashion Week goes global
The biggest fashion event in the country just got bigger and will now be held not once, but twice a year.
Philippine Fashion Week is providing a much larger platform to help couture and retail names garner both national and global recognition via its spring/summer 2009 shows to run from Oct. 22 to 29 at official venues SMX Convention Center and SM Mall of Asia.
According to executive producer/director Joey Espino, the decision is a strategic step in penetrating the global marketplace. “To gain a foothold in the world stage, the country has to follow the international fashion calendar and be able to offer what Fashion Weeks in New York, Paris and Milan can: season-focused collections and bi-annual presentations. We have to prove that Filipinos can conform to international standards and ensure that their work is at par with the rest of the world.”
Over a hundred designers from Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Quezon — a number of them presenting 30-piece premier collections and 45-piece solo shows — as well as top local retail brands like Bayo, Bench, Folded and Hung, Penshoppe, and Plains and Prints are hitting the runways to display Filipino talent and ingenuity to audiences.
Philippine Fashion Week is also teaming up with the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) and the Department of Agriculture to enjoin the fashion industry to support the worldwide environmental cause. The partnership aims to forward eco-friendly couture, which focuses on sustainability and the use of organic and indigenous materials abundant in the country.
The eight-day fashion fete kicks off with the Opening Gala Show on Oct. 22, Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. at Function Room 4 of the SMX Convention Center. Supported by Department of Agriculture and FIDA, the show will have 114 designers including “pillars of Philippine fashion” Aureo Alonzo, Ben Farrales and Pitoy Moreno, as well as veteran designers Boy Ginoo, Nolie Hans, Barge Ramos, Anthony Nocom and Ricci Lizaso using textiles woven from indigenous materials by Heritage Arts and Crafts, Handicrafts of Aklan, Rurungan sa Tubod Foundation, Labo Progressive Multi-purpose Cooperative, Alemaña Weaving Center, Weaver’s Textile Mills, Inc., ABAI Weaver’s Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Oton Woven Products, and La Herminia Piña Weaving Industry.
Frederick Peralta’s solo show follows at 7:30 p.m. featuring his 45-piece collection. Rounding out the first day is Premier Collection A by designers Jeffrey Rogador, Jerome Lorico, and Ralph Ng at 9:30 p.m.
Day 2, Oct. 23, Thursday, features Premier Collection B showcasing the works of Edwin Tan and Pepsi Herrera, Raoul Ramirez and Tina Daniac at 5:30 p.m., followed by the hotly anticipated Project Runway Philippines show at 7:30 p.m., and a solo show by Estien Quijano at 9:30 p.m., all to be held at Function Room 4 of the SMX Convention Center.
Jorge Palmos’ solo show on Oct. 24, Friday, 5:30 p.m. at SMX Function Room 4 opens the third day, followed by Folded and Hung’s latest collection at 6:30 p.m. at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia.
Then it’s back to Function Room 4 at 7:30 p.m. as Hamilo Coast unveils Luxe Wear Collection A by designers Chris Diaz, Edgar San Diego, Harley Ruedas, Jerome Salaya Ang, Joel Escober, Jontie Martinez, Julius Tarog, Lizanne Cua, Mich Dulce, Ramon Favila, Rickie Abad, Roel Rosal, Roland Lirio, Simon Ariel Vasquez, and Twinkle Ferraren. The menswear creations of Bang Pineda, Edwin Tan, Frederick Policarpio, Jerome Lorico, Jeff Rogador, Lyle Ibañez, M Barretto, Manelle Chamian, Odelon Simpao, Ralph Ng, Raoul Ramirez, and Yako Reyes hit the runway at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 25, is packed with shows at SMX Function Room 4, starting with the New Generation Collection at 1 p.m. featuring designers Anthony Ramirez, Arnel Zulieta, Charina Sarte, Gela Salud, Glen Halamani, Greta Castro, Kat Corpus, Maricar Kobayashi, Santi Obcena, and Vania Romoff. Solo shows by Donn Delantar and Dimples La O’ (2:30 p.m.), Sassa Jimenez (4 p.m.), and Arnold Galang (5:30 p.m.) will be followed by the Penshoppe presentation (6:30 p.m.) at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia.
At 7:30 p.m., BDO unveils Luxe Wear Collection B by Alex Pigao, Boying Eustaquio, Czarina Villa, Dexter Alazas, Edgar Madamba, Edwin Uy, Eric delos Santos, Ferdie Abuel, Jay Sustiguer, John Guarnes, John Paras, Marc Rancy, Melvin Lachica, and Ronaldo Arnaldo at SMX Function Room 4. Renee Salud’s solo show at 9:30 p.m. closes Day 4 of PFW.
This season’s Ready To Wear collections of Adrian Rios, Don Protasio, Finina Tugade, Gretchen Pichay, Janno Farrales, Jona Ballaran, Martin Bautista, Nikki Sonico, Pier Lim, and Reian Mata take to the stage on Oct. 26, Sunday, 1 p.m. at SMX Function Room 4. Solo shows by Michelle Lim at 2:30 p.m. and Dita Sandico Ong at 4 p.m. will be followed by the Design Fusion Collection featuring Alodia Cecilia, Anna Leah Salvador, Ciege Cagalawan, Dax Bayani, Dimple Lim, Happy Andrada, Kenneth Chua, Manelle Chamian, Ronan Opiña, and Ziggy Savella at 5:30 p.m.
The spotlight then focuses on Bench’s newest offerings at the Main Atrium of the SM Mall of Asia at 6:30 p.m. at Function 4 (7:30 p.m.), SM Residences unveils Visions and Trends by designers Angelo Estera, Brian Leyva, Enrico Carado, Garimon Roferos, Jerome Lorico, Kermit Tesoro, Norman Noriega, Patrick Galang, Pencil Diestra, and Regine Dulay. The Grand Allure Collection by Butz Fuentes, Catherine Cavilte, Claire Jarantilla, Eddie Baddeo, Jaki Peñalosa, Lloyd Arceo, Michael Cinco, Nat Manilag, Nicky Martinez, Nolie Viñeza, Oliver Tolentino, Popo Go, Richard Papa, Ruby Castrodes, and Russel Torres at 9:30 p.m. ends Day 5.
Bayo presents its Holiday Collection for 2008 on Oct. 27, Monday, 6:30 p.m. at the Main Atrium of the SM Mall of Asia, while Plains & Prints shows on Oct. 28, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. at the same venue.
On Oct. 29, Wednesday, at 6:30 p.m. the national finals of Ford Supermodel of the World-Philippines will be held at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia. The prestigious competition closes the October run of PFW.
Philippine Fashion Week is presented by Runway Productions, Cal-Carries International Models Philippines, EsAc Sydney-Manila-New York and Mode+L, in partnership with SM Properties, BDO, Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), Department of Agriculture, ETC, and ETC 2nd Avenue. SMX Convention Center and SM Mall of Asia are the official venues of the Philippine Fashion Week.
