Fashion for all

A Story by liker

Philippine Fashion Week returned this season to mark its 18th year with the continuing vision of making fashion more accessible to the public. Much like in previous outings, the SMX Convention Center housed a generous selection of local and international players in fashion�"from designers to retail brands�"showcasing their Spring/Summer 2015 collections.

A pool of nine Filipino designers and select brands presented full collections during the three-day gathering. Everything seen on the runway could be be purchased after show�"giving a new meaning to the term “fast fashion.”

The much-lauded facelift of SM as the haven for top-of-the-line trends has changed the ready-to-wear industry, making it more accessible to anyone and everyone. For Spring/Summer 2015, SM brings global consciousness to the Philippine market with the union of the best of the United States and Europe in the PFW stage, the return of Forever 21 and the entry of market newcomers Suiteblanco, (Sfera) and Uno de 50.

Forever 21’s stamp as the go-to place for the young, the playful, and the smart fashion-lover was sealed on the runways of the Philippine Fashion Week after the introduction of its flagship store in SM Megamall in 2010. The brand’s phenomenal entry to the Manila style scene is part of Philippine fashion history.

The Forever 21 segment was divided into four clusters of looks for men, women, and even kids, as shown in The Future of Fashion. Brit Street opened with cues taken from London’s punk, street dress codes showing reinforced passion for plaid and leather that come in varsity and casual jackets, polo, dresses, sweaters, and pants paired with ankle boots and fedoras.

(Picture:black bridesmaid dresses)

University Chic followed as evidently shown by all things preppy from classic �"silhouetted blazers, leather varsity jackets, button down shirts, striped tops, shorts and cardigans. The New Boho portion showed a spirited parade of numbers maximizing earthy tones in varying textures, details and prints. Tribal prints seen in tops, skirts, dresses, and even open-front tassle-accented ponchos upped the look from laidback to OOTD-ready.

Modern Monochrome had a subdued palette that conveyed effortless elegance for the sleek and sophisticated, mixed carefully with a bevy of contemporary patterns and textures both for men and women.

With Spain as the epicenter of influence, retail brands fresh from the other end of the fashion terrain were showcased in the opening night of the PFW stage. Spanish brands (Sfera), Suiteblanco and Uno de 50 debuted their Spring/Summer 2015 collections.

(Sfera), a brand under Spain’s largest department store chain, The El Corte Ingles Group, recently opened its first store in Asia at SM Makati. At the PFW stage, the brand took pride in parading a fresh mix featuring key looks from its Women’s and Casual Collection and Men’s Line. Essentially narrating its design viewpoint, color played a big role in the collection. Selected hues were then highlighted by print and textiles.

The Khaki collection gaves a nod to spring with graphic prints of butterflies on trousers, shirts, and dresses. Harking us back to 1960’s glory, the Green collection shown in tops, dresses and textured overcoats. The highlight of the show, however, was its neutral grey picks, for a more formal look presented in a slew of knitwear, pencil skirts and even bulky wool jackets.

Suiteblanco and its trendy key pieces were also divided into different feels and looks. Festive prints to aboriginal styles were paraded�"including the Rock N’ Roll Denim theme, wild animal-print infusion in Safari Standout, timeless Black & White Binary and East-Meets-West Eclecticism.

Lastly, for Uno de 50, it was all about Connection: the environment’s influence on human beings. Brave designs were shown on the runway with flashes of Swarovski Crystals, as well as leather and especially-shaped metals: all exquisitely handcrafted in Spain.

The show was divided into four sub collections. The Connection Collection drews inspiration from the nature and its elements. The Forest Collection was heavily-inspired by the hues of winter forests, and the narrative of the transforming colors of leaves and the spirited colors of fruits and seeds. The Vastness Collection consisted of organic shapes of silver-plated metal while, closing the show, The Intimacy Collection typified one’s search of being�"recreated in pieces shaped as keys and hearts in different sizes, while the Magic Collection reflects the light, color and strength of the Northern Lights in a color palette of blue, green, gray and pink Swarovski Elements Crystals.

“The arrival of (Sfera), Suiteblanco and Uno de 50 in the Philippines is the signal of making Filipinos to ‘think Global and act Local,” shares Philippine Fashion Week executive producer/director Joey Espino. “Quality goods available to the market at very affordable price points will make Filipinos updated with the rest of the world in such a way that these Spanish brands present up-to-date fashion trends that are globally attuned, and Uno de 50’s accessories are masterfully designed and crafted. All products signify excellence with the known Spanish flair and romance! We are very happy to have them at Philippine Fashion Week.”