It’s Sew On
Manila Fashion Festival has become some sort of palate cleanser that comes in when we most need a minty-fresh perspective on the current state of fashion. This year, it arrives shortly after we have seen one of the most prestigious pageants in the country — given that gowns and prêt-à-porter are worlds apart, it already promises to be a breath of fresh air. More than that, MFF consciously goes against the traditional grain of fashion presentation: one, by keeping the focus on designers, two, by giving the public access to the clothes ASAP.
YStyle asked Ronnie Cruz, founder and creator of Art Personas, which is the group behind MFF, if this means they are representing designers now — the pool has grown since last year’s MFF, and the objective to sell in bulk remains. “We are representing them, somewhat. We have a standing agreement where it’s okay for us to sell their clothes. We have the best designers in the Philippines, but we have a problem when it comes to manufacturing. Most of them are just doing made-to-order. For MFF, we help the designers produce. We hook them up with manufacturers. That’s the intention,” Cruz said.
MFF’s hardcore business-oriented approach toward fashion is in no way a disservice to designers, who, to paraphrase Cruz, create more out of passion than with the intention to sell. Of course, that is always the point — to make a living while doing what you love. But this is the first time in many years that designers are given the platform to do so in such an in-your-face manner. The 26 designers who are participating in MFF also have their pieces on display (current and last season) at the SOMA Stores until March 28. You watch the show, you walk out, you buy what you fancy. You can also order online and have your items delivered to your doorstep within 15 days.
Art Personas, which specializes in talent management, also capitalizes on its strengths and puts forward new talent through the show. This fall-winter 2015 season adds four new designers to the MFF roster — Banggo Niu, Esme Palangas, Bea Samson and Tony Evan. The youngest ones are fresh out of college, the same age as Jenni Contreras of Arin (Art Personas’ in-house brand), which debuted last season. The four-day show also includes: Jerome Salaya Ang, Happy Andrada, Yay, John Hererra, Joy Losa, Renan Pacson, Anthony Ramirez, Charina Sarte, Chris Diaz, Veejay Floresca, Odelon Simpao, Michael Leyva, Rhett Eala, Cheetah Rivera, Pablo Cabahug, and Mark Bumgarner.
The next MFF is scheduled in October, and a Manila Fashion Festival Weddings in November. “In 2016, we’re planning to have MFF spring-summer in March 2016, and MFF couture in May. And in May this year, we will have capsule shows at Green Sun every Wednesday for the next 18 weeks. Our goal is to become a show for the patrons,” said Cruz.
“You gotta have contagious enthusiasm that trickles down to the market,” said Cruz. “We don’t always talk about money — we talk about the bigger goal, the bigger vision. All these things that we’re doing to help the industry, people say it’s a good advocacy. But it’s really not an advocacy. It’s a business strategy. Designers will come to us to help them, and people will listen.”
He added that there’s so much about the business of fashion that you won’t learn in fashion school — and so the age-old debate persists. Is fashion art? Karl Lagerfeld said, “If you call yourself an artist, then you are second-rate.” Does treating it like a business — or rather, as the business that it is — take away its soul? My guess is it doesn’t, but who cares anymore? It’s just good to know that people are coming to see the clothes again, and even better that they’re buying it.
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Manila Fashion Festival runs until March 22 at The Eye in Green Sun Hotel, Makati City. For show schedules, visit Manila Fashion Festival on Facebook.
