Philippine Fashion Week 2006
Ilonggo Designers: Making Waves
For all the slings and arrows, the Philippine Fashion Week 2006 opened with its usual aplomb. Never deviating from its main purpose, Runway Productions ran a tight ship for ten straight days, providing a fitting venue for local designers and artists to showcase their works through a series of properly produced and executed fashion shows at the NBC Tent at the Fort and at the Glorietta Activity Center last March 31 to April 9.
Leading the pack of talented artisans are three of our very own Ilonggo designers: Eric de los Santos, Aldrich Aparicio and Jasmine Castelo. As always, the three designers never departed from their usual lines, proving to one and all that one need not resort to hypocrisy or cheap tricks in order to be noticed.
Jasmine Castelo stood out from the bevy of new generation designers and got rave reviews for her elegantly and flawlessly executed all-black luxe collection inspired by
Azzedine Alaia and Issey Miyake. A throwback from the 50s yet with a spritz from the future, Jasmine has ingeniously blended the old and the new, mixing lycra, viscose and leather and creating a whole new breed of chicness - Castelo-style.
Aldrich Aparicio opened the second day on the right note and mood with no less than his sister, Manila-based model Everille walking the Runway runway wearing a classic, satin trench coat. According to Aldrich, his collection was inspired by his sister Everille, "who has survived the modeling world's quest for "who's new" and who has made a name for herself as a model not by cheap gimmicks but by professionalism." Making use of pastel-colored Shantung and burgundy and black duchess satin, Aldrich Aparicio's collection epitomizes his ideal woman: one with depth, substance and passion.
The Ilonggo fashion prince has done it again. Eric really knows how to play it up and play it well. The young veteran of fashion shows, Eric can whip up a collection that could make you go weak in the knees. Not for the faint of heart, his red, lime green, yellow gold and black color palette juxtaposed strongly yet perfectly with the ultra-feminine silhouette of his designs. Marrying florals and stripes, his silk and chiffon creations pay homage to the modern woman who's sweet and hot - what a combination!
To Jasmine, Aldrich and Eric - Congratulations! Thank you for putting your best foot (and collections!) forward and making us truly proud!
Watch out next Wednesday for the second and last installment of Philippine Fashion Week 2006 as Hot Haute brings you a preview of some of Manila's top designers and their creations.