Mia Arcenas unveils spring/summer collection in Cebu
For some people finding their niche and passion in life may take many years, sometimes even a lifetime, but for Cebuana designer Mia Arcenas, fashion education came early having been exposed to the industry through Ferimar Import-Export Inc., a long-running accessories brand started by her mother Iris Arcenas, who embodies understated elegance, style and panache.
True to her design aesthetic that takes inspiration from nature, particularly the openness and fluidity of the ocean, the Mia Arcenas spring/summer 2014 collection presented at the Oakridge Pavilion was not the average fashion show that many guests are familiar with. The event showcased the designer’s favorite eras in fashion — the full and feminine profile of the ‘50s as well as the laidback, free-spirited ‘70s.
Mia uses easy, flowing materials such as jersey, chiffon and pure silk, in animal, floral and geometric prints, which she designed. She also incorporates hand beading into her pieces, taking full advantage of the skillful artisans that Cebu has come to be known for. The accessories featured are modern, statement pieces that are geometric with a slight edge, a sharp contrast yet perfect complement to the femininity and gracefulness of the clothes.
The designer’s formal training in fashion began with a course in apparel manufacturing management at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandizing in Los Angeles, California where she graduated summa cum laude. She then polished her skills with internships in Rock & Republic and Showroom A la Mode. It was only a matter of time before Mia launched her own brand.
Her first collection focused mostly on one-of-a-kind, digitally-printed, silk kaftans that were quickly grabbed off the racks by her close friends and which remain her best sellers to this day. She later incorporated high-fashion jewelry and bags into her line, working predominantly with luxuriously rich materials, like gold-plated metals, crystals and fresh water pearls.
Over the years, as the Arcenas brand continued to grow adding day and evening wear to its repertoire, what remains constant is the designer’s ceaseless passion to create pieces of beauty and quality and to dress women much like herself — feminine and sophisticated yet confident and progressive.
