Cebu Fashion Review 2015

CEBU, Philippines – Minimalist and nomcore styles seemed to continue to dominate the metro’s collective fashion consciousness last year, but made more vibrant by infusions of design classics and festive themes. The trend was underscored by several fashion events in the city in 2015.

“Déjà Vu”

April 19, 2015; The Northwing Atrium, SM City Cebu

The creations of the 2015 graduates, instructors and mentors of the Fashion Institute of Design and Arts Cebu were presented in “Déjà Vu” – the third fashion presentation-cum-commencement exercise of the fashion school.

The “Red Carpet Collections” of the institution’s mentors were showcased together with the “Graduation Collections” of the graduating students. In all, contemporary re-imaginings of classic styles, banded with a playful use of muted-but-effective patterns and embellishments, top-billed the occasion.

“Pawsionista 6: Philippine Festivals”

April 25, 2015; Parkmall Cebu

The sixth holding of the annual “Pawsionista” proved that Cebuano pet lovers are serious in dressing up their furry best buds.

With “Philippine Festivals” being the theme of the pet fashion show, costumes associated with festivals like Cebu’s “Sinulog,” Bacolod’s “Masskara,” Baguio’s “Panangbenga,” and the “Pahiyas” of Lucban, Quezon, among others, were cutely noticeable. Even the pet owners themselves were in full festival regalia – almost upstaging their pets!

“Santacruzan sa Sugbo”

May 23, 2015; The Northwing Atrium, SM City Cebu

Last year’s “Santacruzan sa Sugbo” at SM City Cebu showcased pieces that lived up to the stylized definition of the “terno” – the contemporary update of the classic “baro’t saya.”

With Cebuano personalities and models wearing designs by Cebu’s much sought-after and up-and-coming designers, the fashion presentation showcased ternos that bore the inimitable hallmarks of the Filipiniana dress – yet still came with various other design themes, like some elements of art deco, pop-fusion and even Davidoff-ian punk.

Overall, the event was a celebration of traditional aesthetics and future-forward design values.

“Style Origin 2015”

July 11— 12, 2015; The Gallery, Ayala Center Cebu

The menswear collections of top Cebu designers Cary Santiago, Yvonne Quisumbing, Protacio, Edwin Ao and Philip Rodriguez, and pieces by Metro Manila’s Herbert Custodio, Randolf and Gian Romano, were the main highlights of “Mensweek 2015” – one of the two fashion shows that comprised the Cebu run of Ayala Mall’s “Style Origin” travelling fashion event.

Community models dressed in collections by a number of local and international fast-fashion brands gave “Highstreet Fashion 2015,” the other fashion presentation of last year’s “Style Origin” in Cebu, a distinct Cebuano flair.

Celebrities Jake Ejercito, Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo and Dominic Roque were the surprise models of the fashion presentations, sharing the spotlight with Cebu’s professional and community models. (YRST)