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By Ricky T. Gallardo
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Mark Anthony So made the
big leap
from automotive spare parts to fashion
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THE seven finalists for the Cebu
Young Designers’ Council competition all admitted that they were
nervous during the final presentation and judging of their
creations. Can’t blame them, it’s their first time to take the
spotlight at a major fashion event where one of them would be chosen
as the most promising young designer of Cebu for the year.
Clothes for Life Foundation,
chaired by well-loved fashion designer Salvador Malto, organized
this year’s competition, in cooperation with Pagcor’s Casino
Filipino Lahug. “We want to tap into the great potential of the
young designers of Cebu, to give them avenue to showcase their
promise and their immense talents in the field of fashion design and
creation,” explained Malto, who is known for his exquisite and
bold swimwear creations in the province.
“It’s my very first fashion
show and I’m humbled to be selected as one of the seven most
promising young designers of Cebu. Just to have the chance to
showcase my first small collection means a lot for someone who’ve
always wanted to become a fashion designer,” said Mark Anthony So
who used to work with the spare parts division of Honda Cebu.
So’s collection was inspired by
the colors of Maranaw. He visited the province of Lanao in northern
Mindanao and he says that he treasured the experience. “There is
so much wealth in our country, so much color and workmanship. The
creativity is overflowing,” he added.
During the technical round of
competition where the minutest details are checked and evaluated,
So’s creations impressed a small group of judges, which included
this writer, Philippine Star’s Luis Espiritu, Pagcor’s Cheryl
Pelayo and Cebu’s fashion impresario Phillip Rodriguez.
The half-Chinese gentleman
infused rich-colored quilted accents on his clothes, headpieces and
bags to create a thematic look for his five-piece creation which
included an impressive A-line knee-high dress using hand-woven
fabrics. His belts, made of handmade Maranaw-inspired materials,
were very polished and detailed.
So came in a close second to Lord
Maturan, who bagged the grand prize during the final competition. As
part of his prize, Maturan will be flown to Manila to participate in
the high-profile fashion event of Samsung Metrowear.
Maturan shared that although his
collection is all about the colonial mentality of the Filipinos, he
tried to break away from the negative connotations of its
definition. “It’s our penchant for anything foreign that amazes
me. I thought of combining it with Hollywood crime drama,
specifically Film Noir, which is always associated with low-key
black and white visuals.”
Maturan impressed the judges with
his edgy interpretation of the Baro’t Saya by creating butterfly
sleeves that are both linear and tailored.
The other candidates also had
their outstanding pieces. Take Regin Harvey Lim Cenit’s polished
pink and brown collection that had indigenous materials like wooden
beads and shells he used for the beadwork of his hand-painted and
totally wearable fabrics. Nolan Arcon also made a lot of heads turn
with his collection that is a harmonious blending of European and
Filipiniana-inspired ensembles.
Manuel Tumaque, Barbie Alvez,
Cyrus Velasco, also made it to the finals but they will need a few
more years of thorough study and polishing to make it to the big
league.
There is definitely so much more
talent in Cebu waiting to be discovered. Organizations like the
Clothes for Life Foundation and the Cebu Young Designers’ Council
are certainly paving the way for new discoveries to shine.
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