17 July 2014 – In just 10 months since he moved to the United States, Filipino designer Puey Quinones is already making waves in the American fashion industry. 

The now Los Angeles-based designer flew to New York upon invitation of renowned supermodel and fashion producer Jessica Minh Anh for an exclusive fashion show at the iconic Freedom Tower of the World Trade Center in New York on June 25, where Quinones opened the show and premiered his haute couture collection for 2014. 

Nine designers were featured in the show, all chosen for their civic engagements and socially-conscious creations. 

Puey’s initiative, Project Bilibid Runway, which he started in 2007, helps the inmates in the Maximum Security ward of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Philippines by teaching them fashion skills.  The goal is to train them towards creation of clothes – from draping, pattern making, sewing, hand-painting fabrics and the like – to help them transition into the society and give them livelihood. He provides the materials and chooses to use as much local textiles and weaves as he can such as jusi, pina and silk cocoon in the designs.

Days prior to the show, Puey paid a courtesy call on Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon at the Philippine Consulate General in New York to collaborate on projects to promote the designer in New York.  Some of his designs featured during the fashion show will be displayed at the show windows of the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue from July to August. END