These Are The Talented Up-And-Coming Fashion Designers From The ICEFAD Graduation Show 2019

The first graduation show of the Institute of Creative Entrepreneurship, Fashion, Arts, Design (ICEFAD) was entitled CREATE: Redefining the Business of Fashion for a reason. ICEFAD’s concept-to-production courses intertwined with the school’s mentorship, vision, and values was the backbone of the graduation’s success. The graduates each presented 5-piece collections with the themes: Sustainable – Retail, Menswear, Textile Design & Manipulation, Sculptural Art, and Red Carpet, which should all represent their growth and identity as fashion designers. 

Blessed Almario created a collection entitled “More Than Rubies” that shows pieces with more than just clean and crisp silhouettes. Simple but infused with keen execution of fabric techniques, this collection was a breath of fresh air on the runway. 

With romance seeping through the hems, Camilla Damo’s “For Her” was filled with structural yet sensual pieces. Her grand piece was a femme fatale tuxedo gown that is consciously adorned by roses. It’s mysterious and intimate, we’re into it.

“Reawakening” was composed of monochrome pieces that had intricate texture and tailoring. Larette Daine’s collection felt narratively effective with pieces that show the designers idea of a persona experiencing a reawakening in the process of metamorphosis. 

Joe Figueroa took a modern take on a menswear tux and used a lighter hue and a softer fabric for his collection called “Lady Chevalier”. The collection featured this satin baby blue tux in an extremely modern tailoring. His treatment for his collection looks ultimately like the future of red-carpet fashion.

Norman Abing’s “Farewell Atlantis” involves the right sheen and attitude. His use of gold and black metallics in his collection elevated looks from head-to-toe. 

The tricky use of print-on-print and texture-on-texture was expertly used on Isabel Laohoo’s cocktail dress. This piece from her collection entitled “Jailbird” had that IT girl personality in it. BRB while we sneak out to fetch happy hour in this dress.

“Premiere”, deuxieme, et troisieme … This collection deserves its title literally means first in French. Marionne Liwag created dramatic pleats on this long gown and we’re gushing over how expensive it looks.

Streetwear continuously invades our Filipino runways and Clarice Melegrito proves that her take on it has a lot to offer in our high fashion runways. Clarice experiments on juxtaposition and use of fabrics in this sporty pink number.

Diane Salamanque’s version of a woman is a high-risker chic who opts for architectural silhouettes and neutrals. Her collection entitled “Venerate” exudes Diane’s type of woman, channeling elevated casuals to intricate gowns.

“Ang Layag” features Austeen Soriano’s blue to yellow and beyond color story was cleverly accentuated with leatherette pieces. His quirky use of rubber boots was a runway head-turner and we’re giving him kudos for such a well-thought collection.

Driven by Filipino culture, Kate Yalung took our motherland’s identity and created high fashion pieces. “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” felt glorious and modern with pieces as complex as this gown inspired by our national fish, the bangus. This collection beautifully represents Filipino talent and experience.

Congratulations to the ICEFAD graduates! May you take on the fashion industry as steadily and boldly as you took on your impressive graduation show. 

Photos courtesy of ICEFAD