part of me still hopes that i will get to talk to you

i will not forget the silly conversations, endless you tube linking and of course the music

we will miss you ivndg.

 

Design Fusion always captures an interesting crowd during Philippine Fashion Week. The crowd is a hodgepodge of people, but they are mostly young and dressed like they just stepped off the virtual pages of fashion/party blogs. This underlying style preference, which is playful and highly referential, is what buoys most of the designers who join the Design Fusion show.

GALLERY

Design Fusion
View the photos of the Design Fusion Collection of Philippine Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2009. The show was held last October 26 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

Photos by Ian Ong.

As the name implies, the show has designers that are taking styles of old and fusing them with newer, more modern styles. This season's ten designers pushed and teased the concept of fusion, bringing styles from all over the world, from times past, present, and future and weaving them into collections that are uniquely theirs.

Alodia Cecilia opened the show with a sexy and urban take on the swashbuckling Pirate. Models paraded in loose, diaphanous tops, shorts, and skirts in muted purple, vivid orange, and chartreuse. This is only Cecilia's second showing at PFW, but already she has established a distinct style. One of these distinguishing marks is her handmade jewelry and accessories, which she showcased this time around as headpieces, necklaces, and bags. Cecilia ditched the overused skulls and crossbones, opting instead to use rope-y chains with dangling bones, metal, and leather fringe.



Anna Leah Salvador followed Cecilia with a theatrical take on black and white, accented with hints of silver. Waists were cinched high and tight with corsets and belts, creating hourglass silhouettes. Tottering in sexy heels, the models also sported luxe headbands and pale-faced masks as headpieces.



Striking colors and interesting details abound in Ciege Cagalawan's collection. The models looked like shifting sand dunes in their flowing, beach-colored tips. Unexpected treasures in the form of chunky bright red bangles stacked up on the models' sinewy arms or black feathery vests, and belts created contrast to the designs.



As soon as his name flashed on screen, a little cheer went through the audience. The throbbing bass in the accompanying music underlined the bold and aggressive collection of Dax Bayani. He first sent out models in skintight body suits lined with shiny studs. Variations came, in the form of dresses, pants, suits that followed. Then the finishing stroke: a gleaming black, high-cut, high-collared number, in PVC-esque material that looked like it was sewn on the model's lithe body. Another model followed in a miniskirt and another (male) in pants. Sexy? Indeed. Wearable? Not to mere mortals that's for sure.



The show took a mellower turn when Dimple Lim's creations took the stage. The models floated on the runway in sheer, soft dresses in pink, turquoise, and grey. Bright yellow and red accents gave the pieces some flair and kept them from being too washed out.



One of the highlights of the show was Happy Andrada's bold statement pieces. Intricate black and white gowns were topped with doodled fringe and feathered headpieces, and top hats. Two dresses in particular, one resembling an inverted umbrella (I'm sure there is a proper term for it, but it eludes me right now) and the voluminous white ball gown with the black puff sleeves that had people applauding before the designer even took to the stage.



Kenneth Chua did not drop the baton at all, sending out his models sporting curly white wigs, clasped with jaunty top hats. This collection reminded me a little of Sofia Coppola's movie version of Marie Antoinette, but Chua took his to another level (and perhaps I am mixing my history lessons here). Chua fused grand ball gowns with cheeky pop culture pieces like bright red heart-shaped bags and hot pink tights.



Manell Chamian showcased a series of body-conscious dresses in turquoise, white, and blue. One of the best ensembles was this slinky maxi dress which in dove gray, which he accessorized with a gigantic floppy straw hat and oversized glasses. We might be neck deep in October but you could feel the pull of the beach immediately.



Davaoeño designer Ronan Opiña was one of the few designers that had strong (eye-catching) pieces for men, creating pastel suits in lavender and melon. His female pieces were equally pretty to look at, creating wearable but distinct pieces in rich hues like orange, gold, and sapphire.



Closing the show was Ziggy Savella who paired colorful plaid shirts with Bermuda shorts on the men and body-skimming dress shirts for the females. The high collars, proper fit, and solid structure of the shirts kept the collection from being too casual. While it was decidedly relaxed, the colors (olive, blue, white) and the tiny details outfits added polish and pizazz at the same time.



With a few dramatic pieces from the likes of Andrada, Chua, and Bayani, most of the Design Fusion collections were kept clean and wearable, which is all right considering that it is intended for Spring Summer season, when silhouettes are simpler, breezier and light.

Photos by Ian Ong.