The “Common Threads: Re/Creating Fashion” exhibit featured work at the intersection of fashion and art. Photo by Borgy Angeles
The “Common Threads: Re/Creating Fashion” exhibit featured work at the intersection of fashion and art. Photo by Borgy Angeles
It’s been two years since Vogue Philippines made a splash, championing Filipino creativity while conveying a message of sustainability, inclusivity, and compassion for nature and others. This year, the celebration heads to Paris to showcase our rich cultural heritage and sartorial savvy to the world.
The desire to celebrate milestones is an inextricable part of human nature, more so if the occasion is a long-awaited one. Two years ago, the Filipino fashion community came together for just that with the launch of Vogue Philippines and the unveiling of its maiden issue. For creatives and style lovers who had come of age leafing through foreign editions of this glossy, this was a dream come true.
Vogue Philippines came at the title’s 130th year and was fêted with an affair that lasted two days. First was a star-studded bash at Xylo where stylish revelers had fun interpreting the theme “Rewear.” The following evening, Manila’s tastemakers flocked to Shangri-La The Fort, walking through an immersive display featuring life-sized pages of the magazine before sitting down to a sumptuous dinner of Filipino cuisine.
Fronted by Filipino-American model Chloe Magno, the magazine’s inaugural issue took readers on a journey through the country’s picturesque landscapes, whilst highlighting the work of our local talents. It is a message that has informed every issue since then, and had once been eloquently conveyed by editor-in-chief Bea Valdes as thus: “By championing inclusivity, diversity, sustainability, craft, and creativity, Vogue chronicles fashion’s evolving relationship with Nature, with each other, and with ourselves.”
Since then, the title has celebrated many things, hosting stylish dinners that bring together artistic souls for an evening of sartorial revelry. Then there is Vogue Talks, which are panel discussions headlined by thought leaders on industry’s most pressing issues. To foster meaningful dialogue, panelists have included Business of Fashion editor-in-chief Imran Ahmed, historian Marian Pastor Roces, stylist and photographer Melissa Levy, and more.
365 Days of Vogue
Of course, the biggest celebration so far, apart from the magazine’s debut, was the Vogue Philippines Anniversary Gala. Merging mindfulness with elegance, attendees took to the gala’s black carpet in sophisticated interpretations of “Refresh & Rewear,” mirroring the launch’s theme. From here, guests got creative, scouring designer closets or their own for archival dresses à la Liza Soberano in Rajo Laurel, or reworking vintage pieces, like Pia-Wurtzbach Jauncey did in Mark Bumgarner.
But fashion wasn’t the only thing on the menu, as the night was one that took guests on a multi-sensorial journey through our history and the archipelago. Culinary delights were on hand, courtesy of the six-hands dinner prepared by chef Margarita Fores and Shangri-La The Fort chefs Carlos Huerta and Joris Ryken. Dishes were informed by Filipino culinary tradition and inspired by the country’s three main island regions—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—to mimic Vogue’s sojourn through the Philippines in the last 365 days.
After dinner, guests headed to the foyer to see larger-than-life-sized magazine covers from the past year for “Vogue Unbound.” There was the February cover of H.E.R, the June Pride issue with Bretman Rock, and, of course, the April Beauty issue with mambabatok (traditional tattooist) Apo Whang-Od. The Kalinga native, who is the oldest ever Vogue cover model at 106, presented an unconventional take on beauty that resonated all over the world. Because of its cultural impact, this Vogue Philippines cover was also recently recognized and commended by Congress through House Resolution 1949.
As the doors to the main hall opened, guests were able to experience the pages of Vogue through various activations of the “Common Threads: Re/Creating Fashion” exhibition. Scenographer Gino Gonzales crafted a multiverse of art, fashion, and the future that imbued guests with a sense of wonder.
Mannequins shrouded within gauze cylinders were featured in the section called “Re:Made”, where creatives from various disciplines collaborated to create artisanal and upcycled ensembles. Within the “Dreamfields” installation by Moss Manila, viewers were transported to the otherworldly spaces featured in the anniversary issue. At the back of the hall, floor-to-ceiling screens projected various fashion editorials, a visual catalog of the magazine’s first year.
In time, the lights dimmed and excitement buzzed through the air for the cover reveal. As the countdown ended, the September issue with Jo Ann Bitagcol, Lukresia and Rina Fukushi was unveiled with them glowing amidst the Ivatan sun. Shot in Batanes, they modeled fashions that brought to life high craftsmanship and artisanal techniques, whilst honoring our collective cultural memories.
Weaving Wonders
Expressing our heritage and traditions through the lens of fashion has always been at the core of Vogue Philippines. And to celebrate its sophomore year, the title is heading to Paris for a series of scintillating events.
First off is a maquette exhibition called “Vogue Threads: Weaving Philippine Culture Into The World.” Here, Filipino designers will be presenting garments in miniature, artistically interpreting the brief “A representation of the Philippine archipelago: a celebration of craft and form.”
This will be followed by an intimate dinner for 120 special Filipino and international guests at the historic fashion museum, the Palais Galliera. As these will coincide with Paris Fashion Week, Vogue’s own editors along with influencers and top talents will be documenting their sartorial adventures through “Vogue Experience.”
By championing Filipino design talent and telling our stories of triumph and identity, the title has become a respected voice for style and culture within our shores. And by taking those beautiful and thought-provoking narratives to the world’s fashion capital, Vogue Philippines is poised to make an impact on the global fashion landscape.
