The runway show titled “Filipinxt: A New Era of Philippine Fashion” will be instrumental in promoting Filipino creative industries both in the Big Apple and beyond
The Filipino community in the United States is taking it upon themselves to introduce more local creative talent to the Western Hemisphere. The Philippine Consulate General (PCG) of New York has recently partnered with the organisation Manila to Manhattan to create “Filipinxt: A New Era of Philippine Fashion”, a runway show and hub dedicated to all things Filipino in relation to fashion and art.
Filipinxt was announced during a press conference at the Philippine Center in New York last April 5. Led by fashion designer Bessie Besana and entrepreneur Rob Mallari-D’Auria, Filipinxt offers a platform for Filipino fashion designers to debut on the world stage, showcasing what our local fashion scene can offer to the mainstream industry.
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From Josie Natori to Monique Lhuillier, Filipino representation in the design world is no foreign concept to the bright lights of New York City. Natori and Lhuillier’s legacies are sure to continue through the work of four designers: Besana, Veejay Floresca, Wilson Limon, and Michael Leyva.
These visionaries will be showcasing their creations at Filipinxt. Besana’s clean-cut aesthetics make his pieces a staple of modern Filipino fashion, while Los Angeles-based designer Floresca emphasises sustainability with uniquely tailored and one-of-a-kind garments.
Limon is the creative director of Niñofranco, a label that collaborates with Mindanaoan artisans to create a fusion of modern-day fashion with indigenous tradition. Leyva, perhaps the most established of the lineup, has made a name for himself for his contemporary take on the Filipiniana gown.
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