Breakin'the rules, transforming fashion
MANILA, Philippines - A new breed of designers recently competed to present their own versions of good fashion at the SM North annex B for the Fashion Institute of the Philippines’ “Breaking the Rules” commencement show. Here, the young designers’ talent in design and garment construction was exhibited.
TV host and commercial model Angel Jacob announced the winners of the six awards among the showcased avant-garde, casual and formal garment collections of 19 participating graduates. Karla Galang, who took from the people and culture of African Maasai and Hamar tribes, was awarded Best in Garment Construction.
For Best in Fashion Illustration, it was Oz Go who drew inspiration from car parts, machines, and cyber-goddesses. He also bagged the Best in Techniques award, where he praised his school FIP for instilling in him the value of creative submission
The Most Marketable Collection was awarded to Michelle Sarmiento.
Imagine magazine awardee Jen Advincula credits the FIP for instilling in her “to always keep in mind that you are making a first impression again and again and to have good marketing sense.” Her collection is for “the woman who can ‘transform’ herself easily.” Her peg centered on the concept of the current house electronic dance club scene, the style of musicians of the ’80s such as Grace Jones, Billy Idol, David Bowie, and Morrissey, plus the movie Transformers.
The plum award Best Collection Award for the Designer of the Year made Karen Ferrer top of her class. She gets an all-expense-paid two-week fashion tour in Paris, France, the den of haute couture. This opportunity will further hone her design aesthetics upon her visits to premier ateliers and global fashion houses.
Director of the FIP and veteran designer-mentor Shanon Pamaong says, “Unlike in any other fashion competition, the Fashion Institute of the Philippines graduation show participants did not just design the garment; they also made their patterns, cut the fabrics and worked closely with sewers; some even assembled the garments meticulously and dealt with all the details and embellishments on point.”
Judges were fashion designer Renee Salud, Barge Ramos of the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines, Preview magazine’s fashion editor Liz Uy, Yonina Chan of Imagine magazine, Fashion Institute alumni Dennis Martin, Jerome Ang, and Ronaldo Arnoldo.
