The Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival (PMFF) is gearing up for a big comeback. After taking a pause last year, one of the biggest fashion events in Manila is ready to once again spotlight the works of outstanding designers in the country — from up-and-coming talents to beloved names. Now under the GO Lifestyle Group, the festival’s new season will be called “The Fashion Reboot” and it will be unlike the previous ones you’ve seen. Curious? Read on to know what to expect at the PMFF this year.
Spectacular fashion presentations
Since the pandemic hit, we’ve seen how fashion weeks in the West have adapted to the times through creative digital presentations that feature stunning visuals and impressive concepts.
If you’ve been yearning for a local digital fashion week, then your wait will soon be over. Instead of the usual runway show, Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival will showcase designs created by 24 designers from all over the Philippines via live streaming on their shiny new website and on the Kumu app from May 31 to June 4. AC Design Yard, a multi-hyphenate organisation specialising in fashion, arts, and multimedia, who is also the force behind the modelling competition Face Of The Philippines, together with JCA Productions, will be the ones in charge of bringing us a good show.
Panasonic continues to support Manila Fashion Festival with producing runway videos and photos of excellent quality using Panasonic Lumix as it has done so since 2018.
Ready the popcorn and camera cause this promises to be a spectacular one!
Return of beloved designers
Many beloved designers are making a return this season. The list includes Dodjie Batu and Dino Lloren who we remember for their elegant asymmetrical cuts last season.
There’s also Windel Mira and Renan Pacson, both of whom are all about chic high-necklines in 2019.
Benjie Panizales and Steph Tan will also make a comeback; we wonder if they will send colourful pieces down the runway once again.
Finally, there’s Edgar Buyan who designed modern Filipiniana-inspired numbers for the 5th Anniversary of Panasonic Manila Fashion Fest. We’re excited to see more of his creative updates on traditional clothing.
Promising new talents
Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival has always been a springboard for then up-and-coming fashion designers like Yong Davalos and Cheetah Rivera. PMFF continues this tradition this year by introducing Alodia Cecilia (President and Creative Director of AC Design Yard Inc.), Emir Yamamoto (Winner of 2012 Designer of the Year Fashion Institute of the Philippines Annual Graduation Show), Marc Rancy (Director for loungewear brand SÉRIE NUIT), and CAMLU (a brand that specialises in handwoven pieces). We can’t wait to see what they will bring to the table.
A collab collection with one of the world’s leading textile companies
An exciting fashion collaboration with Stylem, a leading textile company based in Osaka, will be launched in this season of Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival. The collection is said to highlight Asian talent and sustainability, which is one of the key interests of Stylem.
The PMFF x STYLEM collection, as it will be known, is going to be exhibited in various venues in Japan. We hope it will feature the contemporary versions of storied traditional Filipino garments. Another interesting take would be a parade of pieces that has a mix of Japanese and Filpino style elements. What do you think the theme of the collection will be?
Interactive elements
As part of the digital experience, Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival will be launching a Manila Fashion Map so shoppers can easily locate where the boutiques of homegrown brands and ateliers of designers are located if they want to check out the pieces in person. Additionally, there will be a Panasonic Beauty Map, which is a list of Panasonic stores where you can buy the beauty tools used by the stylists of the Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival.
Catch the 2021 comeback of Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival from May 31 to June 4 via their new website. Sign up for exclusive access here.
Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected].
