An elite education

MANILA, Philippines - He might stand tall and strong now, as the mind and talent behind Edge of Light Studies, but before Xander Angeles was the Xander Angeles, he was just another struggling creative. “I learned hands on, on the job, clocking in those hours… I actually applied for a position as a graphic artist or art director but was not accepted. Not really knowing what was next for me, a friend who was about to resign from his photography apprenticeship offered that I take his much-coveted slot. I gave it a shot and it’s been one big adventure since then.”

Eventually, after a year of assisting and earring P100 a day, he decided to go out on a limb and put up Edge of Light. 

Benjamin Tang Photography by Glen Tungol Styling by Carlos Concepcion Makeup by Xeng Zulueta Hair by Mark Baquiran

On the eve of a new project’s launch, Supreme sits down with an industry heavyweight and talks about the state of the industry. On May 18, they promise a night of firsts at The Fashion Academy Manila’s launch — the first look inside Elite Manila (a fashion academy and model management agency), plus the premiere of a collaborative exhibit by famed and award-winning designers Team Manila, Xander, and guest creative director Raymond Gutierrez. Attendees will also receive copies of VisualZine — the limited edition fashion magazine product of the collaboration. Brought to us by Edge of Light Studios, Team Manila, and Velprint, prepare for a creative revolution.

SUPREME: Why did you decide to put up the school now?

XANDER ANGELES: In the past five to six years, the Philippine fashion scene has changed by leaps and bounds. I left Manila when I felt I had learned what I could from here and moved on to see what else I could learn in NY. After a couple of years living in the fashion capital of the world, I’ve come to realize that to whom much is given, much is expected. It was my responsibility to give back and so I started teaching a couple of groups in NYC.  It came to a point where mentoring was what was actually teaching me more in the end. You truly do learn from teaching. On top of that, the landscape in the Philippines was ripening with talents left and right, even creatives across Asia now have more opportunities to band together. My partners, who happen to be respected visionaries in their own fields, and I saw that the our country was ready for more structured (yet still personal) education in the creative scene. What industry more close to my heart than the dynamic world of fashion, of course!

Jon Hall Photo by Glen Tungol Styling by Carlos Concepcion Makeup by Joanne Josa Quintas Hair by Mark Baquiran

Tell us about the event. It seems like you’re launching the school in grand fashion.

The Fashion Academy Manila is different among other schools in that it houses all these seemingly separate but in reality, very much integrated courses under one roof. Our edge has always been that our education is holistic. You don’t graduate a makeup artist without building a network of models and photographers for you to work with. With this value proposition in mind, the best way to introduce the school to the world was with a showcase that puts this into application. The VisualZine is not only a showcase of modeling, photography, makeup artistry, hair styling and fashion styling at its best; it also delves into the other secondary relationships an artist in this realm forms. Their interaction and working relationships will eventually be exposed to graphic designers, print producers, and the whole other gamut of ingredients that come into making a work of art.

Bea Soriano Photo by xander angeles Styling by BEA CONSTANTINO Makeup by Xeng Zulueta Hair by Felicity Son

What’s next for The Fashion Academy Manila?

About whether to keep it low key or go grand, with the host of celebrities being featured in this magazine and the sheer number of top talents that put their best work into it, it is definitely a piece of work that has to be celebrated in the grandest, most fashionable way.

I think the better question is, “What’s next for the Fashion Academy’s student?” The direction of the school always takes its lead from the opportunities of its students. Right now, the Fashion Academy Manila has a solid strategic partnership with Elite Model Management Manila, where our students and their work are routinely put to the test by Elite Manila models and productions, and just by the name itself, we know that these guys have the highest standards, bar none. Looking further, the next step is to comb the nation through a nationwide search for the country’s top talents both in front of and behind the camera. The right kind of talent and work ethic must be rewarded. We have channels for our students to pursue at this point which will bring unthinkable opportunities to their lap where all they have to do is have the guts and smarts to pursue it. I don’t just mean sending them abroad for gigs here and there. They will be introduced to the right connections, grants, and financiers to tap to make their own dreams come true. From here, just as fashion has no boundaries, so will the business opportunities that will be open to them. The doors to fashion businesses in and outside of our country will be at their disposal. Our people are some of the most creative in Asia and that is the rightful place that our students will reach.

Borgy Manotoc Photo by Glen Tungol Styling by Carlos Concepcion Makeup by Xeng Zulueta Hair by Felicity Son

Where do you think the industry’s going? What direction do you see it taking? 

I think we are in an unprecedented era. Never before have so many Filipino artists been recognized internationally in artistic endeavors across the board, in industries like fashion, interior, architecture, film, etc. In the fashion industry alone, more and more young aspirants have taken notice that the fashion scene is a viable one to enter and develop yourself for versus the traditional corporate ladder path. People are seeing that there is a future in this and a lucrative one at that. 

I feel that, thanks to the efforts of great pioneers of even just a decade or two before us, more people have options now that are closer to their artistic inclinations. There really is something big brewing and we are on the verge of something great. I feel like there are currently many pockets of small organizations working independently of each other. If the right teams get everyone working together cohesively and give us the right channels to pursue, the Filipino artists will really be a force to reckon with.

Maxene Magalona Photo and digital imaging by Glen Tungol Styling by Sidney Yap Makeup by Joanne Josa Quintas Hair by Felicity Son