MANILA, Philippines - With battle lines drawn and territories conquered, the epic conclusion to the 2012 Lee Style Army student design competition closed with the finale at SM Mall of Asia Atrium, which also saw the rise of team Club Rats as the grand prize winner.
Club Rats won with their daring interpretation of Lee’s “Free Your Night Side” campaign, besting 35 student finalists from the country’s top universities grouped into four other troops namely Black Cats, Wild Ones, Blackout, and Dark Knight.
Club Rats’ fashion designer Paolo Kamekawa explained that the Night Skins’ metal hardware was a major inspiration for his design. “I was also greatly inspired by the railroad and its curved lines so I tried to recreate that as a pattern for the embellishment.”
Lee brought out more than just Night Skins, the brand’s latest collection of decadently dark and sexy skinny jeans. The event also put a spotlight on Lee’s 2013 spring-summer collection, evoking the warm season with its vibrant stripes, soft pastels and light washed denim.
Team Club Rats was composed of University of Santo Tomas’ Paolo Kamekawa for Fashion Design, University of the Philippines’ Katrina Regalado for Fashion Design, Vaughn Pinpin for Multimedia, University of San Carlos’ Exur Lopena for Styling, and Christine Cueto for Photography.
Other winners included University of Santo Tomas’ Vince Crisostomo for Best Stylist; Ateneo de Manila University’s Matthew Lee for Best Photographer; Francesca Floirendo for Best Female Model; De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Andrew Baldwin for Best Male Model; University of the Philippines’ Vaughn Pinpin for Best Multimedia Designer; and University of San Carlos’ Jem Borces for Best Designer.
Going all-out for aesthetic combat, this year’s winners came equipped with a lethal dose of style, innovation and creativity. Pooling their resources together and working amid creative differences proved that teamwork, perseverance and dedication pays off in the end.
“We hope to make a name for ourselves in the fashion and art industry,” said Katrina Regalado of Club Rats.
To learn more about the winning group and more updates on Lee Jeans, visit ”www.facebook.com/leejeansphilippines.