If yesterday’s shows started on a high note, the second day isn’t any higher. It’s not even on the same level, but it’s on a totally different league. So obsessing over just the form of the clothing presented at Manila Fashion Festival, like what we did yesterday, would be a sin.
Day two shows were all about effect—emotions, even—and people who wore the clothes. More than the clothes presented, well-loved fashion industry friends turned models and celebrities walked on the runway, and—heck—even kids!
If you pause and take a good look at the clothes, there weren’t much, really. You just have your usual resort caftans, sweaters, and eveningwear. But the genius of the shows lied in trading fierce-looking, emotionless models for familiar faces remove comma instead. Some even evoked a sense of nostalgia. Are we going to cash out on the clothes? Maybe not as much. But the shows sure did put a smile on our faces—and that already says something.
Happy Andrada
Happy usually goes overboard with the quirk in her designs. When she presented a clean and all-white collection, it was a welcome surprise. 10 looks emerged, each an iteration of the barong for women. The designer is constantly in touch with her Filipino roots by using piña and silk abaca as her go-to materials. This season was the most wearable she’s been—crisp blazers, bomber jackets, and floor-grazing slit dresses. Maybe a toned down version of herself is actually a good Happy Andrada.
Odelon Simpao
Dutch painter Piet Mondrian’s signature Mondrian print was the jumping point for Odelon. The print was abused, though, and took on a very literal interpretation. Red, blue, and yellow took over all of the looks, highlighting the use of the print more than his designs.But his strength in menswear is greatly seen in the workmanship of his suits. They’re almost perfect and impeccably made. The womenswear, on the other, has some catching up to do.
Androgyne
Fashion brand Androgyne made its runway show a reunion of the fashion industry’s favorites. You’ve got photographer Sara Black, fashion designers Ivarluski Aseron and Joey Samson, editor Liza Ilarde-Cuenca, and models Fatima Rabago and Jo Ann Bitagcol all dressed in the brand’s signature designs that blur masculine and feminine aesthetics. The collection gives off a tribal feel, but in maybe one too many source of inspiration-. Nonetheless, it was a breath of fresh air—just as loose and billowy as the clothes presented.
Mia Arcenas
Cebu-based designer Mia Arcenas is indeed an island girl. Her pieces evoke that resort vibe through the usual floral caftans and day dresses—perhaps making it look more luxe in feel and vibe would have helped her case more. So how does one make resortwear exciting, then? Mia has yet to answer that question. Evening numbers in gold and lamé came, as worn by the likes of Fatima Rabago, Kiana Valenciano, and Solenn Heusaff. If they’re good enough for them, does the same apply to us?
Avel Bacudio
Who isn’t a sucker for kids walking down the runway? Their sunny, sometimes smug were the only things that kept the show light among the all-black pieces. Leather and neoprene were rendered in crop tops, hoodies, and smokey tulle skirts, all in a sporty mix. The collection didn’t play much on design, so the cute kids were good distractions.
Photos by Acushla Obusan