24 October 2014 - Filipino designer Albert Andrada continued the country’s winning streak at the Mercedes Benz-STYLO Asia Fashion Week (MBSAFW) Awards as he captured the Most Connected Designer 2014 honors at the finale of the inaugural Malaysian Fashion Week (MFW) on October 22 at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Hall in Kuala Lumpur.
The award was given to the designer whose creations were much talked about, commented on and shared in social media platforms.
The former head designer for a royal family in the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Andrada returned to the Philippines to dress up Filipino showbiz celebrities and socialites. Abroad, he is a sought after designer as well by international personalities such as Paris Hilton who wore one of the designer’s creations at the Grammy Awards in February this year.
Last year, another Filipino designer, Avel Bacudio, won the Most Influential Designer 2013 award. This year, the Most Influential Designer 2014 was bestowed to Malaysian designer Joe Chia. Taiwan’s Chun Ting Liu was adjudged Most Promising Designer 2014.
Mr. Andrada and Mr. Bacudio were part of the six-member Philippine delegation to the event, which also saw designers from 12 other Asian countries participate in the MBSAFW and the MFW. Other members of the delegation include Ronald Alzate, Noel Crisostomo, Jeffrey Rogador and Rosenthal Tee.
Philippine Embassy Charge d’Affaires, a.i. (CDA) Medardo Macaraig was present during the awarding ceremonies, and was also present in some of the shows of the designers. As the previous year’s winner, Mr. Bacudio showcased his latest collection in the finale show.
The MBSAFW is the first-ever Asia-wide collaboration of top emerging designers in one media event, taking place once a year in each Asian host city.
The event is a collaboration of 12 official fashion associations across Asia, with the likes of China, Korea, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, showcasing their best designers in one central location. This international platform also plays hosts to the top buyers, media, editors, retailers, celebrities and VIPs from around the world.
For this year, it was held along with the International Trade Malaysia (INTRADE) 2014, the annual international trade and export exhibition organized by MATRADE to enhance networking, business matching, exchange of ideas and knowledge amongst the business communities from different countries, especially those seeking to venture into the global market.
INTRADE 2014 unfolded a newly created segment called FACIT@INTRADE, which is part of the inaugural MFW. FACIT will showcase high-style products and services that embody the interests, attitudes and opinions of every individual. This year’s INTRADE ran from October 20 to 22. END