SINCE 2016, Dong Omaga-Diaz, esteemed designer and one of my fashion “godmothers,” has brought me along with him to attend Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW). Every time, I was the only official media representative from the Philippines, and it’s always my privilege to tag along.
MFW is an “international event that gathers Malaysian and international fashion designers and industry players in Kuala Lumpur through a series of ‘groundbreaking’ fashion shows featuring designers from over 15 countries, a stylish gala event and a trade exhibition.” It was founded by its chairman, Datuk Nancy Yeoh-Reissiger. Its honorary advisor is Datuk Prof. Dr. Jimmy Choo, OBE.
Dong is the “head of mission” of Team Philippines for MFW. “This is the seventh year the Philippines is participating at MFW. This is also the second year I’m bringing a delegation comprised mostly of designers coming from our regions and one representing our overseas Filipino designers,” he said.
The 2019 flag-bearers are Apol Embang of Negros Occidental, Jaq Hernandez of Bicol, Juniel Doring of Bukidnon, Joshua Guibone of Misamis Oriental, Peter Rian Casidsid of Aklan and Richard Paras of Pampanga/Canada. Their segment, shown on October 20 at The Black Box, Publika Shopping Gallery, was directed by Vince Aranas of Camiguin.
Sadly, I missed the shows this year. “Oh you should have been here,” Dong exclaimed when he updated me about our compatriots’ performance. “You would have been so proud, too!”
Our team was awarded “Most Promising International Delegates.” Hernandez won “Most Promising International Menswear Designer”
while Paras took the top plum of “International Designer of the Year.” The triumphs are a notch above the “Best Showcase of the Year” the Philippine team won in 2018.
“My heart is filled with joy and gratitude. The Philippines is blessed with so much design talents. Most of them are outside Manila and just waiting for their one big chance to prove their worth as fashion designers. Thankfully, most of them were supported by their local government units,” said Dong, himself a product of mentorship from the Ecole Lesage Paris. “Molding them and polishing their works is another story. It was tedious! Nevertheless, all is well that ends well. It is my hope that I may be able to continue giving to our able and capable regional designers in the years to come.”
Let’s cheer for Team Philippines 2019:
• Apol Embang (La Castellana, Negros Occidental)—Edgy feminism in classic silhouettes with a modern flair, neoteric modes to the texture of typical surface treatments exuding drama and seduction to a rudimentary couture. Avian detailing highlights vectored into infusing wispy feather
laser-cut fabrics and opaque tinsels upending conventional plumages. A glamorous and alluring tribute to the heraldic, statuesque and flamboyance of the Negrense fauna.
• Joshua Guibone (Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental)—My collection is inspired by the woman of today with a little hint of the 1970s done in a very contemporary way. It features pleats that turn into slits when in motion. The collection has a lot of patterns—plaid, checkered and houndstooth in muted colors. It has always been in my code to showcase wearable pieces but with modern details. Also as the world is driving toward sustainability, I want my clothes to be sustainable and can be worn from day to night and for any occasion.
• Juniel Doring (Malaybalay, Bukidnon)—Bukidnon paves the way for cultural integration and preservation through an annual celebration of the customs and tradition of the seven tribes that originally inhabited the region—the Kaamulan Festival. My pieces are a representation of “The Only Authentic Ethnic Festival in the Philippines.” My pieces are a collaboration of high fashion and ethnicity through the fabric that evokes Bukidnon, since hinabol is an abaca fiber weaved by indigenous tribal people. Just like Kaamulan, my designs are created to fuse the richness and cultural diversity of my home province.
• Peter Rian Casidsid (Kalibo, Aklan)—My collection “Reign” is an accolade to the empowered Filipina who is dynamic and, yet, grounded in her lineage and culture. It is an eclectic fusion of classic and contemporary wearable pieces. I used piña and textured local weaves from my region with splashes of handpainted faces of our Miss Universe winners.
• Jaq Hernandez (Naga City, Bicol)—My collection is called “Objets d’Homme: Pieces de Resistance, (Male Objects: Study in Male Resistance),” and is inspired by how different views of the masculine in the East and West can actually come together. I particularly focused on the West’s hyper-masculine subculture of hip-hop, cowboys, leather gangs and Hollywood, and married that with the East’s quiet but strong figures of samurai, shaolin monks, lone fisherman and shamans (babaylan). The fabrication is also a mix of local fabrics such as piña and silk, with fabrics from abroad like wool, chords and denim.
One of the things that I wanted to do was to bring back an 1980s fashion staple: the shoulder pads. Growing up in the 1980s, one of my fashion heroes was Alexis Colby (Joan Collins). She was the most powerful person (man or woman) in the show
Dynasty. And her shoulder pads, rising like the Denver Ski Mountains, were extremely imposing. As a homage to her, I decided to build shoulder pads to make them really define my man’s shoulders. In tailoring, we use the staggered method when trimming allowances so that it creates a gradual slope and not an abrupt angle. Using that method, I “staggered” the shoulder pads when I was building them so that the shoulder slope, no matter how high it got, will smoothly descend or incline.
Richard Paras (Pampanga/Canada)—My collection is a myriad of flounces and twirls highlighted with feathers and pleating inspired by the Spanish melody. I used a variety of 100 percent silks from Europe. Silk gazar for the two navy blue number, silk taffeta for the black high-low dress, silk organza for the red ballown, silk faille for the ivory ball gown.
I also used different types of laces, such as chantilly and alencon lace from France. I also used hard and soft tulle.
In the future, I want to have a shop in our country, a place where people can feel happy and beautiful. I want to serve the Filipino people and make them feel fabulous in my own little way.