The FAME game: Pinoy accessories take center stage
MANILA, Philippines - Like a tween going through puberty and experimenting with their personal style, Filipino fashion has had its awkward phases and even questionable aesthetic choices. Though we’ve always been inspired by bigwig cities like New York, Paris, Milan and Tokyo, slowly but surely, our sartorial taste has evolved to become our own, and now we’re beginning to define fashion within our own seams — and suffice to say, Manila is definitely catching up. When it comes to style, we Filipinos have got it made, too.
Just when you think you’ve done your complete round-up of key summer staples, think again. Those striped cropped tops, denim cuffed shorts, flirty floral dresses and dainty ruffled tops can still use some sprucing up. After all, accessories are the key to separating you from being a cult follower of the trend crusade to having your own distinct street style. And this year’s Manila F.A.M.E. International certainly gave us something unique to cheer about — necklaces, shoes, bags and hats that are sure to make even the most skeptical Manhattan snob or adventurous Harajuku girl green with envy; and for us Filipinas, just something to make standing under the prickly glare of the sun, if not bearable, more chic.
Held at the World Trade Center, Manila F.A.M.E. International, Asia’s boutique show, featured over 247 exhibitors and is the second longest running tradeshow for home and fashion lifestyle products in the Asia Pacific. By being boutique, the show offers unique and specialized merchandise of high quality, with designs not found anywhere else. Through its expanded offering of home interiors, fashion wearables, health and wellness products and visual arts, local manufacturers give buyers a wide array of choices that cater to their own customers’ discerning taste.
Bib necklaces proved to be an exhibit favorite, with almost each stall carrying their own version of the accessory. Styles ranged from the typical to the outlandish, with some just meant to complement and others designed as the focal point of your outfit. Shell-encrusted clutches also made an expected appearance, versatile enough to be carried from day to night. One-of-a-kind hats, shoes, bangles and rings also graced the stalls, all guaranteed to bring life to an otherwise lackluster summer look.
Apart from the colors that made for a vibrant display during the event, the most striking standouts were the materials used to make these accessories: from indigenous fabrics, hand-woven cloth made of bamboo, pineapple fiber and silk, to jewelry made from raw materials like seashells, coconut shells, wood, abaca, and capiz — Manila F.A.M.E. International showcased not only decadent style coupled with creativity, but also made a conscious step toward creating an outlet for talented Filipinos who can manufacture products that are both drool-worthy and competitive with the rest of ‘em. Form and function, indeed.
