The Philippines takes pride as Filipino designers Happy Andrada and John Herrera as they join London Fashion Week. The designers exhibited the country’s heritage through an exquisite display of their collection during the event. LFW is one of the “Big Four” fashion weeks together with Milan, Paris, and New York.
LFW 2017: Collection Showcase at Fashion Scout 2017
Andrada and Herrera attended one of London Fashion Week’s highlights, Fashion Scout. With over 5,000 buyers, fashion enthusiasts, talents, press and personalities around the globe, the event is one of the largest fashion showcases for fashion enthusiasts and talents throughout the festival.
The collection of Andrada honored Philippine tribal culture and traditions with the designer’s deviation from the futuristic atmosphere of the fashion week. According to an article by The Up Coming, Andrada’s crafts were created with the combinations of raw and natural resources of the country like- pineapple cotton, bamboo, banana and recycled plastic- and luxurious variations of textiles and fabrics. Her creations did not focus much on glamor, rather they celebrated traditional crafting.
Herrera, on the other hand, showcased the magnificence of the archipelago’s most treasured and preserved bird, the Philippine Eagle, in his ‘Agila’ collection.
The designer promoted heritage-inspired fashion with the use of local materials and accessories. Herrera partnered with Epson Philippines to produce pieces of digitally printed textile. The designer’s fashion collection displayed his flexibility with retro and contemporary styles.
Herrera Wins ‘Britain’s Top Designer’
With his six-piece ‘Agila’ collection, Herrera managed to bag Britain’s Top Designer 2017 Award. This fashion designer competition of Fashions Finest aims to fo find the best emerging designer in the UK.
Herrera said on his Instagram account, “Thank you, Britain’s Top Designer 2017! We won!!! Thank you, EPSON for helping me realize my dream and Belo Medical Group for the support. To my team and pradabarkada and interns, I love you guys. Herrera family, this ones for you. For PAUL. ❤”
Top industry judges like head judge Bernard Connolly– celebrity stylist; Hillary Alexander- editor-at-large of Hello Fashion Monthly, and Ewa Szczotka – Director of Education at Istituto Marangoni School of Fashion London saw the designer’s ‘Agila’ collection. Click here for photos of Herrera’s ‘Agila’ collection which were photographed by Ghene Snowdon
Herrera also won the London Emerging Designers in 2015 with his 10-piece Bioluminescence-themed collection.
Local celebrities like Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa wore the designer’s creations, according to an article by ABS-CBN.