Many talented creatives in the Philippines deserve to be recognized on the international stage. With this in mind, Manila Fashion Festival (MFF) successfully launched its first show, PH Mode x TYO, at Rakuten Fashion Week held in Tokyo, Japan last September 2, 2022. The show highlighted a number of talented Filipino designers.
MFF has come a long way from what it was years ago. It began as a runway event to produce fashion shows with local designers, but the appointment of Genshi Shigekawa transformed it into an industry platform that promotes Philippine fashion internationally. PH MODE was then born, a compilation brand that aims to showcase the best of fashion design in the Philippines. As their first step toward globalizing local designers, they participated in Rakuten Fashion Week as "PH MODE x TYO by MFF," with a show at Harajuku's MIL Gallery Jinguemae. Collaboration with STYLEM, a leading fabric trading company in Japan, also broadened the reach of Filipino designers, benefiting both parties.
Tokyo was only the first of other cities that the MFF is spreading Filipino talent to as last October 15 marked the show of PH MODE x SEL at Asia Open Collection, which is a part of the 2022 Asia Model Festival (AMF) in Uijeongbu City, South Korea. The AMF is Asia’s biggest event for fashion, with this year's show including top Korean fashion designer Lie Sang Bong, Italia’s AT.P. CO, Mongolian Sonn Up, and Tajikistan’s Umed Kuchikaliev, and PH MODE x SEL. In collaboration with IGS.F, a graphene textile company in Korea, Philippine designers created an exclusive collection that’s an amalgamation of Korea’s unique high-tech fabric and Philippine materials that paved the way for creativity for both countries
Showcasing their stunning collection down the runway are 10 designers that proudly repped the Philippines in Tokyo. Each runway piece featured high-quality fabrics from STYLEM, combined with Philippine indigenous materials to create a unique look that’s distinctly Filipino but with an international edge. Keep on scrolling below!
LOOK: All the Designers That Showed on the Runway of PH MODE x TYO
1. Albert Andrada
Albert has made a name for himself in Philippine fashion and beyond with his stunning designs, which have been worn by beauty queens such as Pia Wurtzbach and Celeste Cortesi. Instead of his usual glittering evening gowns, Albert opted for a loose white sleeveless dress with an indigenous pink weave design at the front and light, gauzy drapery for PH MODE x TYO.
2. Alodia Cecilia
Much like Albert’s, Alodia's creation is a minimalist white sleeveless dress as embellishment as its main focal point. And the best part about her design is that it has pockets!
3. Daryl Maat
Proving that there’s no such thing as too much color, Daryl's design showcases a blue shirt dress with a red skirt styled on top, both featuring ethnic patterns. A long apple green button-down shirt was the final layer to the designer’s multi-colored look.
4. Ditta Sandico
A little black dress is a timeless piece that will never go out of style. However, Ditta chose to spruce up this classic frock by designing one with a frilled red detail at the collar that instantly turns it into a head-turning piece.
5. Jun Escario
Jun conceptualized a white creation that combines classic Filipino touches, seen by the barong tagalog-like weave decorating the two panels at the front. Taking a step back shows that the overall silhouette of the piece is an oval shape and is trimmed with polka-dotted ruffles.
6. June Samson Pugat
June’s piece is nothing short of elegant, what with its drapery at the sides of the body. The most eye-catching aspect of her creation, however, is the structured detail at the neckline made with a patchwork of indigenous patterns in cool neutral tones.
7. Kaye Morales
Known for her edgy designs, Kaye’s creation that she showed in PH MODE x TYO encapsulated her signature aesthetic. Her black frock brings to mind an oversized jacket with its fully zippered front. Adding some flair to her design were the silver studs all over the sleeves and collar. Lastly, the red accents composed of ribbons and sequins embellished at the front gave it a soft touch to counteract the edge.
8. Lorico
Another zippered dress is Lorico’s simple black design that proves to us that less can definitely be more. Upon closer inspection of the frock, it features asymmetrical details with the disproportioned sleeves and the grey weave detail one on one collar and wrist. As a finishing touch, the designer included a woven topper to complete the look.
9. Oz Go
Going in line with the minimalism of PH MODEx TYO, Oz Go’s takes the familiar oversized button-down shirt and elevates it with a fine red line design and blue fringe frills on the left side. Taking an even closer look would reveal tiny pearls stitched onto it that gives the piece some added texture.
10. S’toi|c
A full neutral piece was created by designer S’toi|c that lets the texture speak for itself. Merging two kinds of fabric together, the first being a checkered weave on the collar and hem, while the second is reminiscent of pleats with its long vertical lines.
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