Charity is now in fashion
BY RAOUL J. CHEE KEE

Followers of local fashion were spoiled for choice this month with a series of shows scheduled throughout October.

Designer Inno Sotto and his team spearheaded the weekly Fashion Watch Quartet while brothers Audie and Joey Espino of Runway Productions oversaw the spring-summer 2012 shows at Philippine Fashion Week.

Interspersed throughout the month were shows featuring the collections of Rhett Eala for Collezione-C2 and Eric de los Santos for Folded & Hung.

The two black-tie charity events held a week apart, however, were the gala shows of Michael Cinco to benefit the Red Cross and Oliver Tolentino for Bantay Bata.Michael CincoMr. Cinco, who is based in Dubai, presented a 40-piece collection that opened with structured cocktail dresses in ivory that reminded one of chic battle armor.

Instead of the expected gladiator sandals with laces inching up their legs, the models were shod in matching caged heels.

The knee-length skirts appeared to have been heavily starched and stood away from the models’ bodies -- the better to appreciate details like the glazed “ceramic” shards arranged in a mosaic style and the sheer insets on some of the skirts and tops.Weeks before the show, it was announced in the papers that Mr. Cinco had chosen a Grecian theme so guests expected a lot of draped fabrics and one-shoulder gowns.

There were a few of those but the designer’s forte is really red carpet dressing and this was what he presented in sunset hues like red, yellow and orange.For his finale, the designer presented a trio of frothy wedding gowns that literally rustled in the wind. His multiple tiered skirts were fashioned out of yards upon yards of stiff white fabric.One after another, the models strutted down the runway in floor-skimming gowns that featured the designer’s penchant for piling on the bling.

It was obvious Mr. Cinco has easy access to crystals and sequins as he used a heavy hand with both. Some restraint might have been appreciated but apparently money is no object for his customers in Dubai.

Incidentally, Mr. Cinco was chosen to represent the Philippines in the World Fashion Week to be held in New York this November.

In an interview with LA-based designer Mr. Tolentino prior to his gala, he said that sparkly dresses are not as popular with his customers that include California socialites and a number of American celebrities. Instead, they appreciate the construction that goes into his dresses as well as the fabrics that he uses.Mr. Tolentino champions Philippine-made fabrics and is very vocal about it when he is interviewed about his creations.“As most people know, I proudly promote my roots and our native fabrics wherever I go,” he said.

He is also very hands-on when it comes to construction since as he pointed out, “it’s really the basis of a designer’s creations.”

Mr. Tolentino employs and trains weavers in the Visayan province of Aklan who provide him with fabrics woven from piña (pineapple fiber), abaca, raw silk cocoon, water lily and jute. Instead of using the fabrics as is, however, he experiments on them so that they resemble other materials -- like fur, for example.

For his 60-piece gala show, he combined local fabrics with silk chiffon, Dupioni silk and French lace. Looks ranged from city shorts and fitted trousers to cocktail dresses and long evening gowns. That night, blooming fuchsias and sunny yellows stood out in the venue that was filled with guests clad in black.

A self-avowed romantic, Mr. Tolentino paired bows of all sizes with tiered ruffles, tiny floral prints and puffy bell sleeves. Used sparingly, they might have worked but two or three in one outfit was just too much. Once again, a lighter hand and tighter editing could have resulted in a more cohesive collection.

The year is almost over but there is still the retrospective and tribute to designer Jose “Pitoy” Moreno for fashion watchers to look forward to followed by the holiday parties that are like fashion shows unto themselves.