THE recent presentations at Manila Fashion Festival: The Next showcased some of the more exciting and refreshing talents today (read: fresh to my eyes and new on this space). The Marquee Tent at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel was the venue of this fashion evolution, and the local scene will be made more vibrant with these creative additions to its fold.
- Azucar. “As a developing Philippine designer, I always try to produce fashionable and stylish clothes that are wearable in our country and abroad. The influence of international trends and my love of travel always push me toward luxe resortwear, that’s why my collection is inspired by Saint Tropez.”
- Reyna Chukada. “My collection is called ‘I Ain’t No Princess’. It’s about turning streetwear into something you can wear to social events. I was always uncomfortable wearing styles that I don’t usually wear, like cocktail dresses for special events, and I’m sure that’s not just only me. This collection is for those people who feel the same way as I do. The collection features baseball shirts, sweats and basic clothing made with satin, velvet and organza.”
- Esme. “Runways are, I think, essential in putting your image and brand and design across. Lookbooks and fashion films serve their own purpose, but I see runway/fashion shows—from music to design and lighting—as a perfect way to let your audience feel what your design/story is all about.”
- Mae-Ann Veloso. “The inspiration behind my collection was Jean-Luc Godard’s 1961 film Une Femme est Une Femme. The film is a comedy that basically portrays a couple fighting, so it inspired me to design a collection with a playful battle of the sexes in mind, seamlessly incorporating feminine and masculine elements into each look. The silhouettes were more on the structured side, with more delicate details included, like pleats/ruffles and cutouts. For the fabric, I used a mix of suiting materials and indigenous materials. For one of the looks, I designed a fabric that was then hand-woven into silk by local weavers from Ambension Silk Enterprise.
- CJ Martin. “‘Fugue’ is inspired by frequent bouts of insomnia and by the iconic 1990s film Fight Club. The collection is made to look like a uniform for an underground gang. Pieces were made to look fragile, yet tough; complex, yet relaxed. Denim and crepe fabrics were used due to its industrial appeal. Silhouettes are disrupted with the continued use of ‘cracked’ seam lines reinforced with fagoting stitches to embody a complicated and deranged personality. Desaturated colors with accents of red dominate the collection, which is consistent with the harsh shadows, fluorescent light and brutal/sickly quality of the film.”
- Jinggay Serag. “This collection was inspired by the illustrations of German marine biologist and artist Ernst Haeckel in his book Kunstformen der Natur, specifically Plate No. 98, titled ‘Discomedusae Aurelia’. The print in full color shows the different dissections of the jellyfish. It’s a manipulation of sculptural flounces, whorls and architectural finishes and textures. The collection features pleating and bubble details that represent fluid movements. A range of silhouettes, proportions and contrast in proportions are exploited, from drop waist to under bust crop top, high waist to blousson tops and lantern sleeves. Accessories, such as detachable sleeves, obi and corset leather belts, are added to complete each look.”
- Arin. “The collection is called ‘The Replicants’, inspired by Philip K. Dick’s book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, which was turned into the film Blade Runner. Lots of outerwear in nylon fabric, knitted piña pullovers, cotton and neoprene. There are oversized silhouettes and lots of draped pieces; a balance of tough jackets and fragile bottoms.”
- Daryl Maat. “The collection is about my fascination with people from the Metro who love to surf. The inspiration for the fabrics are froth trails [the marble-like fabric print] and boardshorts prints. For the silhouettes, I used the idea of the scuba suit, that’s why most of the zippers of my dresses have grossgrain ribbons, just like the idea of the scuba suit, wherein you have to zip yourself. For the dresses, I want to give it a feel of a cover-up for your swimwear, literally giving you the formalwear feels, but underneath you’re ready to jump into the water anytime.”
- Brit Tripudio. “My inspiration for this collection is the fashion culture of Tokyo, Japan, the diverse and unique style of the Nihonjin, DIY fashion pieces that I saw from walking and exploring the Harajuku district, the cyber-punk style of Shibuya, and, of course, the Japanese love for Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons. The collection is a combination of these and my own aesthetic. Mainly I used fabrics like dull satin and used the other side, lightweight nylon, mesh [which is my fave] cotton for the pullovers and shirtings, and denim.”
- Jun-Jun Ablaza. “This collection slightly deviates from my usual signature pieces of opulent artwear that uses a kaleidoscope of rich fabrics, accessories, gold embellishments, feathers and gemstones. This time, I’m inspired by the current industrial trend, where many of the
materials used are repurposed to create highly imaginative, yet very wearable art. As a jeweler and accessories designer, the highlight of this
collection are the unique pieces utilizing hard-ware items. Materials straight out of a tool box, like nuts, bolts, hinges, locks, screws and an assort-ment of paraphernalia, were incorporated with leather and ropes to create neckpieces, bracelets and other accessories that are adventurously assembled in a quirky masculine style.”