‘Vogue Philippines’ champions Filipino creatives
Come on, Vogue! The launch of the Philippine edition now catapults our world-class talents to the world.
“What excites me the most about Filipino fashion and beauty as a whole is its ability to transform with the times and still stay true to our cultural roots. Each garment, each material, and each look tells a story of what the times were like at any given period in Philippine history,” says Archie Carrasco, chairman and CEO of Mega Global Licensing, Inc.
“Think of fashion as a cultural time capsule: its evolution tells you not only what was trendy at the time, but how people lived and adapted to change while carrying over materials, practices, and values that are uniquely Filipino,” he elaborates. “With so many talented artists emerging today, I’m looking forward to seeing how they will interpret the modern-day Filipino through the lens of fashion — these are the kinds of impactful stories that I want to amplify and uplift through our platforms.”
“It’s such an exciting time to be in fashion right now. Consumers are more aware of what they are purchasing and how it can affect the planet and future generations. Instead of excess, we are reusing, recycling, up-cycling — and now more than ever, circular fashion is happening,” says Suki Salvador, president of MEGA Global Licensing, Inc.
He continues, “There is also a sense of pride with creators who are using local materials and truly elevating them to modern pieces. I’m thrilled that the world will see our emerging talent and brands through Vogue Philippines.”
Creative powerhouses who are already shaping the zeitgeist with an eye for sustainability bring this unique perspective to the editorial team.
Editor in chief Bea Valdes says, “Through the content in Vogue Philippines and its platforms, we hope to showcase the Philippine fashion identity, by connecting us to the global community. Vogue remains the most powerful platform for fashion’s emerging talents and their diverse perspectives. It has always been at the crest of new aesthetics and mindsets, and we are thrilled to join the fold.”
“The maiden issue explores the concept of identity — what it is to be fashioned and shaped by our environment, our landscapes and by the people we cherish. It speaks of sustainable mindsets, in our own terms. It is filled with hometown heroes and global dreams all seen through Vogue’s unique lens,” she says.
Fashion director Pam Quiñones has a personal story behind the cover shoot concept. “As a nine-year-old kid growing up in Cotabato, a city on the island of Mindanao, I dreamed of traveling to places through the pages of Vogue. The beauty of fashion and the magic of the images inspired me to dream,” she shares. “Now, the world can travel to our shores through Vogue Philippines and discover our rich culture, our diverse people, and our stories.”
British Filipino-Egyptian photographer Sharif Hamza captured Filipino-American model Chloe Magno, whose roots are from Davao, in some of the country’s underrated destinations. With the Vogue team, they overcame aggressive waves and conquered some steep terrain — Magno in the best Filipino creations and pieces from international luxury houses — all to get the shot for 36 pages of pure fashion wanderlust.
There are three covers, representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, that explore how we are connected — not separated — by the water that runs through our archipelago.
The viral Mindanao cover captures the still strength of the Bucas Grande lagoons of Surigao del Norte, where Magno wears a pleated Rajo Laurel creation.
The Visayas cover was shot on Biri Island, Northern Samar, where the otherworldly rock formations are sculpted by the wind, the San Bernardino Strait and the Pacific Ocean. Magno is triumphant against the violent waters in Chris Nick and a crushed metal headpiece by the artist Jinggoy Buensuceso.
The Luzon cover has Magno beaming after a hike up the Tinipak River, Rizal, the marble boulders at her feet in a peach cloud of a frock by HaMu.
No celebration of Filipino fashion is complete without highlighting our wearable heritage. Styled by fashion editor Daryl Chang, the terno is future-ready in interpretations by contemporary and cutting-edge Filipino designers. They push the boundaries of what can be done not only with the silhouette of the Philippine national dress but also in creating gender-disruptive clothing and diving deep into Filipino heritage. For this story, I interviewed Ternocon’s Gino Gonzales and Slim’s Mark Lewis Higgins about the past, present and future of the terno.
Filipino beauty boomed in recent years and beauty editor Joyce Oreña captures it all with an eye for the precious and sublime — a Filipina’s distinct features inspiring it all.
“We are slowly embracing who we are and our diversity — skin tones, facial features, hair textures, body shapes, and gender neutrality. We no longer define our beauty from a western perspective,” she shares. “We are now open to exploring every version of beauty and find joy in each individual’s uniqueness.”
It is an exciting time to be a Filipino — for print, as a creative, as a lover of all things beautiful — and this launch is only the beginning. Now, strike a pose. The world is watching!
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Vogue Philippines is published under a license agreement between Condé Nast and MEGA Global Licensing. Inc. Grab a copy at National Bookstore, Fully Booked, and online at Lazada and Shopee.
