MANILA, Philippines - Mother Nature favored the whole day of Sunday, March 20, with good weather to facilitate the attendance of a capacity crowd at Green Couture, the fashion show conceived with the environment in mind.
Candy Dizon of Jul B. Dizon Jewellery invited Manila’s top fashion designers to support her environmental advocacy by designing and executing — gratis et amore — haute couture from recycled materials.
Lending their talent and creativity for the cause were Dennis Lustico, Ivarluski Aseron, James Reyes, Jojie Lloren, Karen Capili-Mijares (USA), Kate Torralba, Michi Calica-Sotto, Patrice Ramos-Diaz, Puey Quinones, Rajo Laurel, and Tippi Ocampo. Robby Carmona of Saga Events directed the show.
The support that Candy got was nothing short of overwhelming, with both amateur and professional models volunteering to showcase the fantastic gowns. In addition, her co-parents at the Manila Waldorf School joined her in staging the show and, consequently, endowed the faculty training and development program of their children’s beloved school.
Cocktails were served before and after the show, and there were giveaways as well. Sponsors led by Shell and Moroso Italian Furniture donated cash gifts while L’Oreal Professionnel, Franche Mineral Cosmetics and Justine Barbara Salon gave away products. As usual, the Peninsula delivered food and beverage of the highest quality.
The Rigodon Ballroom for the main event by Class 8 students of Manila Waldorf was transformed into a lush garden bathed in green light, which reinforced the ecology theme underlying the creations. Environmental songs were rendered by revered musician / singer-songwriter Cynthia Alexander, and introductory spiels were delivered by Waldorf trustee Dr. Lolet Tan and Waldorf parent Rose Scott.
One by one, the names of the 11 designers were called out and the model/s wearing their creations sashayed onto the pathways transformed into a springtime flower garden.
It would have been just another parade of high-fashion gowns were it not for the fact that each and every one of them was made out of recycled materials that were otherwise bound for the garbage heaps of mega Manila. The audience wondered just what material each gown was really made of and, every time, they were amazed at how such lowly items could be turned into things of class and beauty.
Recycled materials included bubble wrap, plastic bags, shower curtains, plastic bottle caps, drinking straws, rugs, magazines, T-shirts, sacks, petticoats, shopping bags, tablecloths, tansans, newspapers, paper cups, and plastic twine.
The show highlighted the depth of imagination of all the designers and during their final bow, they were greeted not only with unending applause but also cheers and whistles.
After the fashion show, guests were gifted with environment-friendly brown paper loot bags sealed with the Waldorf School logo and containing Moringana vegetable tea bags and capsules in a pretty box, a few more product samples, and the promotional literature of some sponsors.
Only a week prior to Green Couture, Class 8 of Manila Waldorf was in Dumaguete for their annual camping trip. Only three days before the fashion show, they were in Waldorf’s new Timberland Heights campus, 450 meters above sea level, performing in their annual music recital.
And on this day, they were in the center of the country’s social circuit doing their bit for the environment albeit dressed in fashionable chic. All leading up to their Rite of Passage from childhood to adolescence and onto the Waldorf Uber Schule (Upper School). What a great ride!