Filipino Designers Make It Big in London Fashion Week
It’s in the bag! Cheri-Lou Aranjuez featured a line of bags she co-created with the female inmates of Compostela Valley’s Montevista District Jail. (Cheri-Lou Aranjuez photo)
LONDON 22 February 2019 – Filipino fashion designers made a bold statement during the February installment of this year’s London Fashion Week, with designs aimed at supporting communities and rallying behind the cause of women empowerment.
Davaoeña designer Cheri-Lou Aranjuez launched her new line at a London Fashion Week show in Millennium Gloucester Hotel on 16 February 2019 featuring bags that were hand crafted by the female inmates of Compostela Valley’s Montevista District Jail and fabrics woven by stay-at-home mothers.
“I am very, very proud to raise the Philippine flag higher and bolder,” gushed Ms. Aranjuez, whose second time it was to participate in London Fashion Week under the House of Ikons.
Proceeds from the sales of Ms. Aranjuez’s designs during the show will be donated to the Mayas Foundation, which provides support for rape survivors.
Mitch Desunia, the Filipino fashion designer behind Mode U.K. also launched her children’s line during London Fashion Week. Ms. Desunia launched a new collection of whimsical occasion dresses for children featuring vibrant colors and playful designs.
“Philippine fashion designers are becoming more visible during the bi-annual London Fashion Week. Representation during London Fashion Week is important because it is an opportunity to put Philippine fashion on the radars of influential fashion buyers, editors, and trend forecasters,” Ambassador to the United Kingdom Antonio M. Lagdameo said.
Last year, Cagayan de Oro-based designer Martha Rodriguez launched her new line of high-end bags for men and women featuring the traditional textiles of Mindanao’s T’boli, Yakan, and Tausug communities. Ms. Rodriguez is the founder and designer behind Vesti, a brand that easily grabbed the attention of fashionistas in the September 2018 London Fashion Week.
London Fashion Week is one of the four major Fashion Weeks in the world, aside from Paris, New York, and Milan. It is the only fashion week that happens twice a year, on February when autumn and winter collections are launched, and on September for the subsequent spring/summer seasons. END
Mitch Desunia joins MODE’s young models during the finale walk. (Mitch Desunia photo)
For more information, visit www.londonpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/pg/PHLinUK and @philippinesinuk on Twitter.