Philippine Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2014: Top 10 collections

Jerome Salaya Ang

MANILA, Philippines - Entitled “After the End,” a narration of Noah’s Ark, Jerome Salaya Ang delves into the primal earthly beings that arose after the flood. Naturally taking inspiration from mythology and otherworldly phenomena, he manages to create a collection that is both experimental and couture without sacrificing his aesthetic. The collection gives us a peek into the minds of the beautiful, confident women that clothe themselves in his designs.

Norman Noriega

Austere, luxe sportswear seems to be the underlying theme that connects Norman Noriega’s collection. It blends crease-resistant and suitcase-friendly fabrics such as terry cloth, jersey and knits in monotone colors to create shapeless, slinky separates, pullovers and boxy mini-dresses perfect for traveling.

Xernan Orticio

Taking a cue from ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, Xernan Orticio incorporates his signature origami-like folds and precise fabric-cutting to create shape, line and form-hugging vine-like patterns, mimicking the parts of the flower. Through making use of a neutral color palette, he is able to create looks that go from day to night with ease, like the flowers of ikebana.

Albert Andrada

Greatly inspired by the Monarch butterfly, designer Albert Andrada explores the idea of metamorphosis. He showcases, in varying stages, pieces that demonstrate the inner workings of a beautiful couture creation. Despite the subdued neutral color palette of beige, blush, silver and black, he still keeps his usual high-shine elegance, decadent red-carpet glamour trademark.

Arnold Galang

The allure of Mediterranean art, landscape and architecture greatly influence Arnold Galang’s spring/summer 2014 ready-to-wear collection. He makes easy, desirable and wearable pieces in humble fabrics in stark white and Yves Klein blue. Aside from the embossed fabrics used in the white pieces, the embellishments done in acrylic beads and crystals create additional texture and dimension in the collection.

Veejay Floresca

This season, Veejay Floresca explores sportswear-meets-luxe ready-to-wear separates. Her easy-to-style pieces can be worn in layers and styled according to the needs of the modern woman. The fit is very relaxed with hints of utilitarian elements. The predominantly neutral and muted colors give the collection an air of soft elegance and familiarity. There is a sense of ease in this season’s woman, who is always optimistic.

Vania Romoff

1950s high elegance meets the relaxed 1970s in Vania Romoff’s latest collection. The billowy sleeves, soft drapes and silks add a delicate, nonchalant touch and a fresh twist to Vania’s classic aesthetic. The understated but impactful kind of luxury definitely reflects her own style and her clients’ preferences.

Martin Bautista

“Going back to the drawing board of couture fundamentals to create something modern out of traditional silhouettes using new techniques,” is how Martin Bautista explains the way he remixes old and new to execute his vision of how couture should be for the modern woman. He swathes silk around the body, while tops and skirts are delicately structured like second skin, almost like armor. Austerity and fragility together bring a kind of protection and security, a certain confidence he wants his women to feel when they wear his creations.

Yvonne Quisumbing

Eccentricity, obscurity and luxury are the three words that best describe Yvonne Quisumbing’s collection. Inspired by topiary (as seen in the headdresses), Rothko’s canvases (as evident in her rectangular patterns) and heroines (her armor-like beadwork and layering), she perfectly captures fearlessness and femininity in this collection, which is interpreted in the fabrics, which are both delicate (silk and satin) and strong (leather and tweed).

Lyle Ibañez

His recent trip to New York City is reflected in his spring/summer 2014 collection, which is greatly inspired by the legendary American fashion designer Geoffrey Beene. Lyle Ibañez creates a deceptively plain structured silhouette with simple colors (he mainly uses black, nude, gray and a surprising Schiaparelli pink) with the ease of lightweight jersey to hide the additional layers that you can pull on and off to create a totally different look.

Photos by RXANDY CAPINPIN, Assisted by AG DE MESA and JERBY TEBELIN, Styling by RYUJI SHIOMITSU, Assisted by KEITH ANGELO and CHRISTINA ZABAT, Makeup by HANNA PECHON for Shu Uemura, Hair by DIVAD MEDINA, Modeled by STEPHANIE RETUYA and JODILLY PENDRE