Panumpa

CEBU, Philippines — The ultimate truth about a wedding dress is that it’s just a dress that, like all other clothes, is subject to passing fads and trends.

But for all the things the wedding dress has been associated with, there’s an aspect to it that outlasts fashion values – the wedding dress is widely considered to be one of the most important clothing pieces a woman can wear in her lifetime – in the sense that it speaks of her expectations.

This aspect to the wedding dress was the theme of “Panumpa,” this year’s closing bridal fashion presentation of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino’s annual bridal fair.

Staged at the Pacific Grand Ballroom of the hotel on October 5, the show’s title took from the Cebuano word that means “promise,” as it was mainlined by bridalwear collections by ten of the country’s top up-and-coming designers. “Panumpa,” in this case, also meant “vow.”

Collectively, the event’s showcased pieces exemplified the “simplicity” principle in design.

While there’s only so much that can be done with cuts of taffeta, organza and silk, there’s a possibility for all wedding dresses look the same. But “Panumpa’s” featured pieces were centered on satisfying the bride’s hope and expectation – emphasizing that the real point of the wedding dress isn’t the dress but the wearer.