Runaway report 2014: Ingenue

CEBU, Philippines - The avante garde eventually becomes old guard, the much ballyhooed passing of the torch. For that, the young group is on the fast track, under the tutelage of their very able instructor, fashion designer Dino Lloren.

 Just a few days after launching their respective new labels, the new graduates opened their doors to customers and custom-made orders came in. Collectively, their debuting collection seemed to be somewhere along the techno/hip/cutting edge continuum, a position where experimentation has been known to play.

A second collection is already on the way. The ingénues have already gained a significant distance between their debuting line and their next, leveling up as designers-to-watch-out-for in the near future.

 There's something fun about watching the likes of seasoned models Angel Luzano, Matet Gorgonio and April Duenas interact with model ingénues Vanessa Walters and Megan Heeger as well as with the rest of the 21 models, who got unabashedly sexed up as they stomped down the runway in sleek hair and very towering stilettos. Showing to the audience that included university heads and the supportive parents along with fashion pillars Cybill Gayatin and Edwin Ao, the designers asked the models to work it for full multiple exposures and quick changes on that momentous day.

A series of super-short bandage dresses that had been partied up, with a ruffle here and some pleating there, was followed by cleverly patched lace dresses that were show stoppers. These were topped off with gold lame dresses with inserted tubes, and for finale - the ultra modern bridal ensemble. The take-no-prisoners attitude it required to pull off clothes like those was an admirable quality in its own right.

Congratulations, graduates. Bravissimo! (FREEMAN)