Putting our best shoe forward

MANILA, Philippines – Cascading ribbons of piña and abaca fabric put just the right amount of romance in a shoe that won the grand prize in the recent Filipino Footwear Design Competition sponsored by the Philippine Footwear Federation Inc. (PFFI).

Nina Evangelista’s design “The Romantic” using pina, abaca fabric, satin and wood got the nod of the judges. “I’m inspired by the potential of indigenous materials. It can be classy and modern,” said Evangelista, a freelance fashion designer and an alumna of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.

Entries from 47 schools confirm the impressive variety of Filipino shoe designers, who competed in five categories. The individual winners are: Jose Francisco Aquino for Classic Casual, Anna Clarissa Bacani for Classic Trendy, Carla Varias for Classic Children’s, Nina Evangelista for Filipiniana and Arturo Enrico Navarro for Avant Garde and Pop.

The panel of judges included Patis Tesoro, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Puey Quinones, Lilia Abella representing Rep. Marcelino Teodoro.The judges focused on innovation and creativity, practicality and functionality, material selection, aesthetic and safety.

Evangelista will represent the Philippines in the 2009 International Footwear Design Competition in China. In addition, all winning shoe designs’ prototypes made by Rusty Lopez, GIBI shoes, Celine, Shoetech and DST will be exhibited at the 2009 International Footwear Design event.

For more information, visit www.pffishoedesign.com and www.philippinefootwear.com