With their passion, talent, and discipline, Filipino designers are now infiltrating the international fashion scene. They always have their own unique touch in making the visions come to life, and seeing their works shine abroad is a testament that the designs of our local fashion creatives are truly world-class. The recent addition to the long list of Filipinos making their way to international fashion weeks this year are designers Jobert Cristobal and Chynna Mamawal.
Chynna Mamawal (Photo from Chynna Mamawal) and Jobert Cristobal (Photo by Getty from @jobert.cristobal)
Earlier this week, the two presented their latest collections on the runway of Vancouver Fashion Week (VFW) fall-winter 2023. Since its establishment in 2001, the prestigious fashion fest has been on a mission to get designers global exposure. This time, the event featured over 40 shows dedicated to cultivating the success of both established and emerging designers in a highly multicultural approach.
Celebrating the Filipino style and culture—that’s what Jobert’s runway show was all about last April 13. Dubbed “Hari,” the collection was composed of pieces in homage to the classic terno and jeepney, which is described by many as the “King of Philippine Roads.” A myriad of colors and prints paraded the runway. The designer also played with different silhouettes, taking the terno form to a contemporary level. Leather cutouts and Ankara prints brought his spirited collection to life. The distinct butterfly sleeves were adorned with color-blocking details to mimic the hood and wheels of the local vehicle. While crocheted and beaded accessories and footwear completed his eccentric runway show.
“When we talk about Manila’s jeepneys, we talk about structure,” he wrote in a caption. “Our traditional jeepneys, though old and rusty, are very durable.”
Chynna, on the other hand, took everyone’s breath away with her whimsical formalwear line launched on April 15. Her collection was full of elegance, opulence, and luxury courtesy of her master tailoring skills, intricate beadwork, and heavenly hues. Ornately embellished dresses twinkled as they moved down the runway. Feathered pieces danced and fluttered serving angelic moments. Her menswear pieces, merging traditional and modern styles, were among the highlights of her show.
“I would like to showcase Filipino fashion and art in the global scene,” she said. “It’s proudly Filipino. We’re not just representing Chynna Mamawal as a designer and as a brand, we’re also representing the Philippines. Everyone on the team is a Filipino, everyone. We want to showcase every kind of Filipino talent.”
With these stunning collections capturing Filipino artistry and culture, we can expect that we will see more of Jobert and Chynna’s designs gracing other international runways.
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