The two are no strangers to one another. In fact, SAGA and FDCP have worked together in the past with very little effort.
This time, the two have come together to celebrate — the FDCP which marked its 10th anniversary since it was founded by Josie Natorie in May 23, 1995, and Robbie Carmona who raises a toast to "events innovation" spearheaded by his company a decade ago.
Fashion shows staged on a grand scale like the one at Edsa Shangri–La are hard to come by. Thus elitists in the fashion circuit made sure that they had their rightful places before the show started.
It is worth noting that the front row was occupied by some of the "pillars" in the industry such as fashion czar Cesar Gaupo, society’s Ting–Ting Cojuangco, Irene Marcos Araneta, DTI Asst. Sec. Fe Reyes, to mention a few VIP guests.
To avoid confusion on whose creation was whom, given that there were 26 members of the FDCP who were parading their collections, projectors flashed on the walls the name of the designer as his models emerged on the "diorama–like" stage designed with sliding panels.
Collectively themed "Philippine Fashion Trends ‘06," the show opened with models flaunting sleek and slim Canon Digital IXUS cameras, the latest "toys" in photography.
Next came the hottest hairstyles presented by TIGI Catwalk. With the exception of a few that bordered on the absurd, this "mane inspiration" featured the Afro look with an attitude for texture and color.
From last year’s romantic curls, top hairdressers from Basement Salon, Essensuals Toni & Guy, Emphasis Salon and Salon de Manila forecast unstructured, wedge, assymetrical and super textured hair for next year.
Curls are still in and so is an all–permed, deconstructed crowning glory as created by Pin Antonio of Salon de Manila.
From hairstyles came the highlight of the show — stunning collections from some of the country’s most talented and innovative designers for 2006.
Rustan’s U in–house designer Hindy Weber Tantoco led the long parade of clothes with her "Bahia Bombshell" themed collection. Hindy chose azure and chocolate brown for her snug and sassy designs which she infused with customized stripes and braiding.
Jul B. Dizon’s metallic gold raffia fedoras, bug brooches and bangles were a beautiful contrast to Hindy’s clothes, worn with gladiator sandals and leather boots.
Summer separates with exaggerated garment parts make up Jojie Lloren’s forecast as next year’s trend. He used georgette, striped cotton to create hot pants and deconstructed tops with cape–like sleeves and sash that extended to the back.
FDCP president Randy Ortiz dabbled in Russian military inspirations for his ladies wear.
Like in most of his designs, it was back to the 1960’s interpreted in soft bubble twisted skirts worn with a peasant dress in soft taffeta.
Ortiz embraced the Russian influence with his military inpired jackets, cotton sleeveless tux shirt and pants with piping detail, as well as a Russian–inspired tux with metal studs matched with mustard paisley pants.
The military precision continued all throughout the first part of the show, with Anthony Nocom, Vittorio, Dong Omaga–Diaz and Ramon Esteban creating fashion armies interpreted in their individual styles.
The male models of Nocom appeared on the ramp like hunters in the wild in their caramel brown safari outfits. Leather belts, stylized thongs and slip–ons completed Nocom’s "Out of Africa" look.
Some designers chose to go soft and feminine.
Tippi Ocampo set the tone for a flirty collection with full skirts and shorts, high cinched waists and dresses incorporated with corsets or worn with a bolero.
Robi Lolin had a unique connotation of "flirty," merging romantic with the sporty.
Rajo Laurel was inspired with summer in Paris and so, showed silhouettes of soft tailoring, focusing on the waist, flaring on the hips and tapered on the legs.
Metallic shades, off white and tan dominated his collection which he described as "infusing Parisian flair with Philippine provincial lifestyle."
The show, though quite long, kept the audience glued to their seats for "surprises." And the first to pull off such (pleasant) surprise was avant–garde designer Ivarluski Aseron.
Inspired by origami and kites, Aseron treated silk like pieces of paper and made short dresses with varying silhouettes.
In one of his designs, Aseron "crumpled" the silk fabric to make the sleeves for his dress while the skirt was made of silk cut–outs sewn together, layer by layer.
Then there was Gerry Katigbak’s peasant fashion.
Using a palette of full colors and heavy embellishments, Katigbak unveiled dainty balloon skirts trimmed with black and white lace which he paired with tailored top.
Katigbak finished off with beaded sandals and eccentric–looking accessories.
Capping the parade was past FDCP president Frederick Peralta’s all–black collection which brought a touch of Hollywood Glamour to the catwalk with voluminous, bouffant and pouf skirts and models glittering with Swa-rovski accessories.
