WE CULL five news stories on Cebuano fashion delivered here on all Wednesdays of 2017.
Two of them are exclusives (“Sky’s the Limit,” “Talk of the Town”)—a first-hand of the whole nine yards of creating the material for Cebu Daily News alone. Follow through the excerpts below lifted from the original articles or find them on the official web presence.
It’s a big bang, too, for others whose shows have lingered a little over the date of release due to a supernatural occurrence. For one, Furne One, the commander of Amato Couture, enthralls the world at the Arab Fashion Week in November. Also from the Middle East, Harvey Cenit comes home with a major surprise.
The reunion of our very own royalties in October—yes, we got that covered. And how charming … Ditas Rodriguez is back in the house (“Supreme Beings”).
Marichu Tan, Jul Oliva, and Yvonne Quisumbing synthesize a new pragmatic form of feminism in fashion this year. Insert ours: More lady designers in 2018.
Our coverage runs beyond just sitting pretty in the front rows. We’ve forged alliance with the designers for they do mirror the economic health of our country. We are humbled, in fact, that our words in print become minuscule of a medium at the imminence of their power.
More than the interviews, we have also entered their workspaces on late nights to witness the birth of a collection, even closer than any all-access, in-depth reportage.
All of us have dreamt somewhere in our childhood of becoming one of them. But we are as satisfied now that we are just right here in the newsroom, ever thrilled to provide the fashion designers platforms in the next 48 Wednesdays of our lives in 2018.
Amato at the fifth
Arab Fashion Week in Dubai And in a city that has become a metaphor for luxury, Filipino designer Furne One of Dubai’s Amato Couture, turned his models into fairies living the high life.
“This collection is inspired by fairies—sea fairies, all kinds of fairies, because as a child I believed in fairies,” Furne told AFP backstage.
His collection did not disappoint. The celebrity favorite, who has dressed Beyonce, Katy Perry and Heidi Klum among others, sent more than 20 models down the runway in holographic and pearl headpieces, their arms stained with green duochrome glitter, as if Tinkerbell had gone fora swim.
—“Fairy-inspired Collection by Filipino Designer Furne One Shines in Arab Fashion Week,” November 21
Divine Lee moves to Cebu
Oh, see. We conjured up a little something for Divine Lee whose marriage to Blake Go happens this Saturday in Cebu.
A harbinger: Our own version of a bachelor’s bash as the countdown dwindles to four days since he proposed a life together in Bali about a year ago.
Of all the Wednesdays, now is the perfect timing as her marriage will fortify her ties with all of us.
She’s a designers’ favorite, someone who breathes life into any kind of reinvention from them, fashion week after fashion week. She’s still at the height of her influence, transforming mere houses—including all bargain sales of the world, yes—into a fashion cult.
I am not maarte in all things, except fashion because I consider fashion as an art piece to wear.”
—“Sky’s the Limit,” August 2
Cebuano fashion designers culminate the 2017 Manila Fashion Festival
It’s still the same strength now manifesting on his (Protacio) newest Edwardian, seven-piece collection at the 2017 Manila Fashion Festival at the Marquee Tent of Shangri-La Hotel on Edsa Avenue on Oct. 20, Friday.
As treat for the style pack, it was a four-day series of fashion shows culminated by fellow Cebuano designers Philip Rodriguez, Mike Yapching, Philipp Tampus, Marichu Tan, Dino Lloren, Jul Oliva, Dexter Alazas, Jun Escario, and Yvonne Quisumbing.
—“Talk of the Town,” October 24
Four most celebrated designers reunite
Ditas (Rodriguez) returned to the runway, completing the formidable alliance of fellow Fashion Council of Cebu core—Albert Arriba, Arcy Gayatin, Philip Rodriguez—at the eighth installment of Philippine Daily Inquirer’s “Face-off” show themed #OOTD at the Mountainwing of SM Seaside last month. They are the four super powers who have been responsible for enforcing the growth of the Cebuano fashion landscape since the glory days of the local haute couture in the 80s when all their individual ateliers sprawled on Ramos Street.
—“Supreme Beings,” October 10
The biggest bridal show
When a phalanx of white dresses on statuesque brides started traipsing down the runway, one knew it would be nothing but pure bliss at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug, Cebu City for the 2017 edition of “Weddings At The Waterfront” on the evening of October seventh.
A powerhouse ensemble of 12 fashion forces convened to present their individual vision and interpretation of wedding style. It was a mix of old guard and young blood.
—“Wedding Romance at La Relance,” October 31
