Top designer to highlight peace process at the Philippine Fashion Week

MANILA, Philippines - Arnold Galang, on May 28 at the Philippine Fashion Week, will put up a sartorial show that has never been done before. Shying away from the sparkling sequins and flashy fabrics, Galang will focus on subdued tones to reflect his mixed emotions over the recent non-passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Galang who has been named National Ambassador for Peace by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in 2012 has been exposed to communities where hope for sustained progress had replaced the want and fear brought about by armed conflict.

Inspired by the stories of the widows, fallen brothers and shattered lives, the premier designer calls his latest collection, “Stories.”

Fronting pieces with style and substance, the designer, who has been working in the fashion industry for more than 20 years, will bare a series of black and white designs that reflect his perspective on the peace process issue.

“Like most of the people who are suffering from armed conflict, I got frustrated by the turn of events,” Galang explained. “I feel that people in power could have done better. I knew that when the law is passed, it is only then that we will be able to experience real peace in the country."

The black line of his Philippine Fashion Week Collection reflects these feelings of loss and frustration. “When Senate passed up another opportunity for lasting peace, I felt that the peace process was not going anywhere,” Galang revealed.

“But I reminded myself to keep hoping, to keep dreaming and this is the white line of my collection stands for,” he shared. “Dark, but hopeful that in due time, peace will be an everyday experience for Filipinos.”

Galang believes that no matter how dark the path may seem now, his aspirations or peace will continue to be the focus of his work as he remains positive that, in time, peace will be achieved by the whole country.

Galang worked as a designer for fashion lines, such as Bobby Novenario, Bench, Oxygen, Bum Equipment and Calypso, among others. He is currently the vice president for merchandising for Blutab Jeans and the creative consultant/merchandising for Sakaya ladies' wear. Further, he is an outright supplier for SM ladies wear, girls teens wear and boys teens wear. He currently operates the A. Galang line at the SM ladies' wear boutique department.