Philippines adapts Project Runway
by: Sonny M. Versoza
Good news fashion addicts! The three-time Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning American creative competition reality series Project Runway now has its own Philippine version! The said version is produced by the Solar Entertainment Corporation and Unitel Productions, and to be aired on cable TV through ETC Entertainment Central and on free TV through SBN 21.
Historical View
Project Runway is a behind-the-scene documentary series and competition reality TV series of the Bravo Network which focuses on fashion design, and started airing on December 2004. The contestants compete with each other to create the most fashionable clothes and are usually restricted in time, materials, and theme. Their designs are judged and one or more designers are eliminated each week. Supermodel Heidi Klum co-developed the program and appears as one of the celebrity judges with the Elle Magazine. So far, Project Runway has versions in the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and now in the Philippines .
Project Runway 'Philippines'
Distributed by the FremantleMedia, Solar Entertainment Corporation and Unitel Productions were able to put up an adaptation of the reality series that would aim to find the "next big Filipino fashion designer" to join the ranks of Monique Lhuillier and Ramon Felix Totengco. After six months of airing teasers, Solar Entertainment formally launched the show last July 10, revealing only the main cast - and keeping mum about what's going to happen inside the sewing room. The winner will receive P500,000 in cash, a start-up business package, an editorial spread in Mega magazine, and an opportunity to show their collection in Philippine Fashion Week
The Cast
For this Philippine version, international model Teresa Herrera is the designated Heidi Klum of the show, while designer Jojie Lloren will be playing the role of style mentor to the designers (style guru Tim Gunn's counterpart). Resident judges include fashion designer Rajo Laurel and model-turned-fashion columnist Apples Aberin-Sadhwani.
The Finalists
Auditions were conducted from January to March of the present year at the SoFA in Makati City and in other key cities of the country such as Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Dumaguete, and General Santos City. The 14 finalists of PRP (Project Runway Philippines), which consists of a mix of established and new designers, were introduced in a press conference held in Greenbelt 5 Gallery in Makati City. The finalists are:
- Aries Lagat - He's from Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental. He studied under a scholarship program at Slim's Fashion and Art School in Manila. Aries' claim to fame is winning the grand prize at the 2006 Mega Young Designers competition, which awarded him a one-year study grant in Mod'Art Paris.
- Ava Paguyo - She graduated with a double degree in B.S. Biology and Clothing Technology. She trained under Pinoy Big Brother contender and fashion designer Mich Dulce. Her style profile: a mix of Barbie and Japanese anime.
- Bo Parcon - Before joining Project Runway, he had already launched his own label in his hometown, Iloilo City. His work have graced runway shows in the city and landed on fashion pages in Manila.
- Eli Gonzales - While trying to finish a degree in industrial design in college, he decided to heed the call of his true passion and shifted his career to fashion. He vows to create clothes that "people would be happy wearing".
- Ivan Raborar - A native of Koronadal, South Cotabato, Ivan takes pride of his Mindanaoan roots by mastering the art of T'nalak tailoring. He won the T'nalak Haute Couture grand prize twice and has become a regular favorite of Mindanao fashion community.
- Jaz Cerezo - She graduated in Far Eastern University (FEU) with a degree in advertising. She later went to Slim's Fashion and Art School to pursue her fashion dreams. Before auditioning for Project Runway, she designed for a local teen girl's apparel and created bridal and evening gowns for clients.
- Mara Reyes - Despite being petite, and perhaps, being among the youngest in the competition, Mara is the most calm and confident. She banks on her Fine Arts degree and background in costume design to win the competition. During interviews with the press, she even showed some signs of being the "feisty imp" that reality shows always have.
- Philip Tampus - Before auditioning for Project Runway, Philip has already carved a fashion career in the Middle East, where he is formerly based. He was the head of salons for bridal and evening wears in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. His next move is to dominate the Philippine fashion scene by attempting to win the contest.
- Veejay Floresca - Veejay joined Project Runway Philippines with credentials rarely achieved by fashion designers of his age. He studied for a year in an art and design school in London, he once joined the International Competition of Young Designers in Paris, and some of his works were already seen in local fashion magazines and catwalks. One glossy has even tagged Veejay's design as "The New Face of Avant Garde."
- Winnie Chua - Often pensive and demure, Winnie prefers to walk the talk when it comes to her designs. Her extensive background in fashion merchandising afforded her a slot in the top 14 Project Runway hopefuls. She describes her style profile as a combination of commercial appeal and her signature "minimalist-architectural style".
- Charette Regala - She's a full-time clothing technology instructor in UP Diliman. She also has a background in managing a sports apparel brand before she joined Project Runway Philippines.
- Lord Maturan - Loud and candid, Lord reminds Project Runway followers of Season 4 contestant Christ March. His gameplan is just to "have fun" in the show. He says he takes his inspiration from culture, religion, and politics.
- Lorymer Villareal - Lorymer proves that the key to make it big in the fashion world is not formal education, but raw talent. He is a self-trained designer who won the 2005 Philippine Fashion Design Competition, which gave him the opportunity to show his works in Paris at the International Competition of Young Fashion Designers in the same year.
- Loida Hunter - At 51, Loida is the most senior in the group. She is a home-based dressmaker whose forte is making corporate wear. She tried out for Project Runway because she wanted to explore her creativity in creating wardrobe outside the office.
Eight of the finalists came from Luzon, four from Visayas, and two from Mindanao. Majority of them had formal education in fashion and have established their own fashion businesses before auditioning for the reality show.
The Episodes
And so the runway drama began.
While keeping true to the US series, this Philippine version tries to inject a bit of local flavor and original design challenge concepts in order to differentiate themselves from Project Runway USA.
Episode 1 - After an introductory round of coconut water straight out of coconuts, the designers were tasked to collect as much fabrics and accessories, which were draped on parked jeepneys, as possible. They were then told that they are required to use all of the materials they have gathered in creating a dress that shows their personality as a designer.
Episode 2 - The remaining designers were tasked to create a dress inspired from their assigned legendary Filipino fashion designers. To have an idea on the styles of these "13 Legends," the designers had consultations with students from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). They were given P2,000 for materials from Metro Gaisano Mall in Taguig City and two days to sew their creations.
Episode 3 - Lloren introduced the remaining designers to Carla Sibal (editor-in-chief of Mega magazine) and Sarah Meier (model and former VJ of MTV Asia). The competitors were tasked to create a design that fuses hiphop and haute couture sensibilities. Meier chose six design sketches for the runway show, while the designers of which chose their respective team partners. The winning design will be worn by Meier in a fashion editorial for Mega magazine, while the designer was granted immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 4 - The remaining designers were brought to TRIbeca Private Residence, a resort in Muntinlupa City, for a whole day of rest. What they did not know is that the next challenge would take place there. They were tasked by a representative of Nestle Philippines to create a resort wear that can easily be transformed as a day dress and an evening wear using the color palette of Nesvita Cereal Milk Drink. The designers had to gather their materials in cabanas situated in the resort within the time limit of five minutes. The winning designer will be granted immunity for the next challenge, and the winning design will be worn by the winner of Miss Philippines-Earth 2008.
This is a manifestation of growing fashion-awareness Filipinos are acquiring. The need of having Project Runway's Philppine version shows that Filipnos can influence the world of fashion through our unique culture. PRP will surely click to the fashion addicts. And the ensuing drama in every challenge has kept the Project Runway alive in the past three years, and, for the fans who already marked their calendar for the first Philippine run, there's nothing more frustrating than just counting the days and not knowing what to expect. In the absence of spoilers or insider scoops, it helps to know about the designers who will go through the grueling challenges.
Project Runway Philippines airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m. on ETC Entertainment Central, SBN Channel 21.
http://www.teachersams.blogspot.com
The Episodes
And so the runway drama began.
While keeping true to the US series, this Philippine version tries to inject a bit of local flavor and original design challenge concepts in order to differentiate themselves from Project Runway USA.
Episode 1 - After an introductory round of coconut water straight out of coconuts, the designers were tasked to collect as much fabrics and accessories, which were draped on parked jeepneys, as possible. They were then told that they are required to use all of the materials they have gathered in creating a dress that shows their personality as a designer.
Episode 2 - The remaining designers were tasked to create a dress inspired from their assigned legendary Filipino fashion designers. To have an idea on the styles of these "13 Legends," the designers had consultations with students from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA). They were given P2,000 for materials from Metro Gaisano Mall in Taguig City and two days to sew their creations.
Episode 3 - Lloren introduced the remaining designers to Carla Sibal (editor-in-chief of Mega magazine) and Sarah Meier (model and former VJ of MTV Asia). The competitors were tasked to create a design that fuses hiphop and haute couture sensibilities. Meier chose six design sketches for the runway show, while the designers of which chose their respective team partners. The winning design will be worn by Meier in a fashion editorial for Mega magazine, while the designer was granted immunity for the next challenge.
Episode 4 - The remaining designers were brought to TRIbeca Private Residence, a resort in Muntinlupa City, for a whole day of rest. What they did not know is that the next challenge would take place there. They were tasked by a representative of Nestle Philippines to create a resort wear that can easily be transformed as a day dress and an evening wear using the color palette of Nesvita Cereal Milk Drink. The designers had to gather their materials in cabanas situated in the resort within the time limit of five minutes. The winning designer will be granted immunity for the next challenge, and the winning design will be worn by the winner of Miss Philippines-Earth 2008.
This is a manifestation of growing fashion-awareness Filipinos are acquiring. The need of having Project Runway's Philppine version shows that Filipnos can influence the world of fashion through our unique culture. PRP will surely click to the fashion addicts. And the ensuing drama in every challenge has kept the Project Runway alive in the past three years, and, for the fans who already marked their calendar for the first Philippine run, there's nothing more frustrating than just counting the days and not knowing what to expect. In the absence of spoilers or insider scoops, it helps to know about the designers who will go through the grueling challenges.
Project Runway Philippines airs every Wednesday at 10 p.m. on ETC Entertainment Central, SBN Channel 21.
http://www.teachersams.blogspot.com
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