E Models Asia on the ramp

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

WHAT started last year as a request from a mall to stage monthly fashion shows there has turned into an association of 107 models from the initial 34 when E Models Asia was founded in January 29 this year. At last year's Moda Masskara, eight of the E Models qualified to be part of the fashion show. After that, E Models got invitations to grace Bacolaodiat 2011, SM's Earth Day celebration, and the Panaad festival where the models became live mannequins for the costume exhibit. So far, the fashion mannequins participated in four grand fashion shows produced by E Models Asia.

E Models Asia is event planner Mr. Edson Azuelo's endeavor to help professionalize modeling jobs. This advocacy was born from a realization that models were paid only with meals or snacks with very little or absolutely no cash benefits for all their trouble.

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Models don't get made up and dressed up and pushed on the catwalk just like that. They undergo procedures and have to pass certain qualifications in order to do their job which is to show off a designer's creations in the best possible light. In fact, modeling is a career which needs constant learning and training and updating in order to be tops in that field. And what a competitive field it is as we all know. A lot of discipline and sacrifice are involved in order to maintain the job or to keep the projects coming. Time and ageing are a model's formidable enemies and early retirement is part of the game.

To be an E Model, applicants are segregated into three categories: Kids - for children 6 to 12 years old, Rookies - teens from 13 to 18 years old, and Pros - adults from 18 to 27 years old. Training for catwalk and photo-shoots are a must and this is also provided by the association. To be considered as an E Model, one undergoes an audition, interview, ramp work, and a 7-series workshop/seminar. Remuneration is usually per show and given to the models by the client himself.

I was at SM Mall one afternoon when I saw three models posing on a dais as still as inanimate objects. Only their eyes blinking and chests heaving slightly gave away the fact that these figures were living things. They were launching E Models Asia's live mannequins and this gimmick proved to be successful. Mall rats gathered and gawked, and even shoppers in a hurry couldn't help but stop and stare at the models. E Models Asia had found its niche providing live mannequins when clients need some. Mr. E confirmed that it was a successful gamble.

This month, E Models Asia in partnership with SM is staging Bacolod Fashion Parade 2011. This will be the first time something like this will be organized.

On July 21 to 24, E Models will be part of the event, of course, as they show off the collections of Iloilo and Bacolod fashion designers from casual wear, cocktail dresses, sportswear, formal wear, fantasy and bridal collections. Casual and cocktail wear will be on the 21st while sportswear and formal wear participated in by the mall tenants themselves are scheduled on the 22nd.

An event within the event is the Young Designers' Competition in the morning of July 23. Here 10 amateur designers will compete for the top prize. An exciting show to watch, also, is the July 24 bridal show "My Entourage and I", the first fashion show featuring not only the bride but also her entourage of flower girls, ring and arrhae bearers, bride's maids, etc.

So, choose which date you would like to attend or choose them all in support of Bacoleño talent. Break a leg, E Models!