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FASHION took a different turn recently when ten of the most
brilliant and innovative designers showcased their creations at the
Rockwell Tent for the second installation of the Samsung Metrowear
fashion show, the country’s first yearlong fashion event. Billed
as “The Next Generation,” the well-attended fashion show
featured the wonderful collections of fashion architects Antonio
Garcia, James Reyes, Patty Estaquio, Cary Santiago, Protacio,
Ivarluski Aseron, Joey Samson and LZ Punzalan, accessory designer
Wynn Wynn Ong, and shoemaker Brian Tenorio.
Antonio Garcia’s designs were inspired by the
Korean culture reminiscent of the men’s and women’s traditional
costumes of Korea’s colonial era. The male look boasts of
gentlemanly details through miniature top hats, gloves and shoe
spats. The female is garbed in the purest of silks bursting in
colors and patterns influenced by the nature around them. “For
this couture collection, I took my liking to the “Jang Mei”
(Korean rose) and translated it into the basic elements of my design
pieces—shape, color and texture,” says Antonio Garcia.
James Reyes’ key pieces and materials used in
his collection are satin, twill, cotton pique, taffeta and organdy.
Reyes reveals, “I have always been an avid collector of
children’s books and for this collection, I took inspiration from
titles like Mary Poppins, Dr. Seuss, Alice in Wonderland and even
Mother Goose.”
The colors of deep plum, blue, black, shades of
gray and off white composed the collection of Patricia Eustaquio.
She shares, “The idea for the collection is basically a take off
from images of Japanese robots, but in a softer, more feminine line.
The silhouettes, however, are all vintage inspired—mostly from the
1920s and 30s.” She added, “I want to try marrying the two very
different ideas to come up with a collection that is fun but at the
same time elegant.” She used a mix of fabrics to create more
texture: there’s twill and taffeta, linen organdy and silks and
metal and leather for embellishments.
Nature continues to be an accessory creator,
Wynn Wynn Ong’s inspiration with continued concentration on
craftsmanship, experimentation with diverse materials, and attention
to details. “This year, my primary focus is on Beauty in
Miniature.”
Undeniably, the designs of the next generation
come from various inspirations ranging from nature to culture to
history. The Samsung Metrowear series will be continued by a
retailer’s show in September. Capping the Samsung Metrowear Series
is also a must-see Gala show in November.
As the designers’ fashion-forward creations
paraded the ramp, guests were allowed to wine and dine with
cocktails from Mandarin and admire the Filipino ingenuity. Enjoying
the scenes of a very chic event were ABS-CBN’s Gabby Lopez, Ernie
and Jeena Lopez, and Thelma San Juan, former super model Anna Bayle,
makeup guru Xeng Zulueta, Bianca Gonzales, beauty queen Priscilla
Mereilles, and model Helene Belmonte. Designers Rajo Laurel, Randy
Ortiz, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Arnel Papa, Louis Claparols and Katrina
Goulbourn-Feist with husband Chris Feist also joined the festivities
to support their potential successors.
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