GOVPH

: Published: 27 October 2023

PH Embassy Successfully Stages "Hibla:Philippine Textile and Fashion" to Mark 73 Years of Diplomatic Relations With Greece

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Poster for the fashion show with Ms. Naomi Zarrin A. Palec and Mr. Ivan Dominique Manalang (photo from Athens PE)

ATHENS 27 October 2023 - The Philippine Embassy in Athens hosted an unforgettable evening of culture and fashion at the Hellenic Foundation for Culture with “HIBLA: Philippine Textile and Fashion.” The event, a vibrant fashion show, showcased a stunning array of Philippine textiles and designs brought to life through the creativity of Milan-based Filipino designer Mr. Christian Lanuzo.

With around 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the diplomatic corps, Female Ambassadors in Greece, the Women’s International Club, the Ladies Ambassador Spouses Living in Athens, partners and friends of the Embassy, the evening was a celebration of culture and friendship.

Philippine Ambassador to Greece Giovanno Palec delivered a warm welcome and emphasized the importance of diplomatic relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the Hellenic Republic, which reached 73 years this year. He spoke of the shared values and common interests of the two countries. Ambassador Theodoros Michalopoulos, Director of the A9 Directorate for Asia and Oceania of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs served as the event’s guest speaker, acknowledging the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

The event featured three distinct fashion collections. The first was “Streetwear featuring Philippine Weaves.” This collection showcased Philippine weaves and fabrics from various regions, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the Philippines. The designs paid tribute to the craftsmanship of indigenous groups. The second collection was “Modern Filipiniana and Barong.” This collection reimagined traditional Filipino attire with modern twists on the classic Barong Tagalog and Terno. Extraordinary materials such as pearls, wires, feathers and upcycled fabrics were used to create contemporary Filipino fashion. The third collection was “Golden Treasures.” This collection highlighted Filipino heritage, presenting ancestral jewelry and dress, inspired by the attire of noble men and women. The collection recreated the “Pintados” based on the ancient tattooed warriors’ body-painting traditions as recorded in the Boxer Codex.

Entertainment was provided by Ms. Kirsten Arada, a Filipino performer born and raised in Athens. She rendered heartfelt songs including her original song “Love Tropes.”

Designer Christian Lanuzo, who kickstarted his career by winning first place among designers of different nationalities at the Multi-Ethnic Designer competition in Italy in 2018, was the creative genius behind these remarkable collections. Mr. Lanuzo seamlessly merged the iconic butterfly sleeves, traditional “terno” and intricate beadwork.

The fashion show featured 24 models, comprising 13 women and 11 men from the Filipino community, some of whom were second-generation Filipinos born and raised in Greece, making their runway debut. END

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Amb. Giovanni and Mrs. Palec joined by Amb. Theodoros Michalopoulos, Director of Asia and Oceania of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (photo from Athens PE)

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