Learning in style

Saturday, March 5, 2011

WALKING on the runway wearing the most desirable and beautiful dress is surely an unforgettable moment for a ramp model whose life revolves around getting dressed to show off someone else’s creations.

But nothing is much more enjoyable than the designer herself seeing her sketches come to life as the model carries it with confidence and passion. Perhaps, all those who have an eye for fashion may feel envy as to how a simple sketch can mean so much once it is shown onstage.
 
For those Kagay-anons who have a keen eye for fashion and want to join this glamorous world, fret no more as the Fashion Institute of the Philippines (FIP) is now in Cagayan de Oro to offer the most complete line of fashion courses.
 
The FIP teaches easy-to-learn European methods and techniques, and direct-to-the-point fashion education. It is established in 2003 by then Canada/Paris-based designer Shanon Pamaong, an awardee of the Canadian Faces Fashion and the Fashion Week Hewlett-Packard Best Designer 2007.
 
Shanon, who hails from Bohol, has worked with renowned fashion designers and manufacturers in New York and Toronto and in haute couture and ready-to-wear (RTW) houses in Paris. He is a pioneer faculty of the Philippine School of Fashion of La Salle College International.
 
The Fashion Institute of the Philippines offers fashion design, men’s tailoring, menswear, pattern making, children’s wear and fashion merchandising. Among its students – both national and international – include professional designers, entrepreneurs, housewives, hobbyists, second coursers and other professionals. It has trained suppliers, staff and prime movers of leading fashion chains such as Penshoppe, Freeway, Bayo, Genevieve Gozum Boutiques, YRYS, Celine Marketing Group, Bench, Natasha, SM, Landmark, Robinson’s, Crossings and other independent brands.
 
Since its inception eight years ago, the FIP has produced grand winners in various design competitions, among them Aries Lagat, the 2006 Mega Young Designer Grand Champion and Project Runway 1st Season Grand Champion; John Herrera, Mega Magazine Most Promising Designer awardee who also represented the Philippines to the Japan Design Competition; Jerome Ang who represented the country in the Singapore Design Competition; Paul Herrera, Young Designer Competition for Paris Grand Winner-Accessories Division; and Vanessa Ang, the 2008 Mega Young Designer Grand Champion.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Shanon Pamaong and Mimi Parrel-Pimentel team up for the establishment of the Fashion Institute of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro. (Joey P. Nacalaban)

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The school has also produced big names in the Philippine fashion industry such as Star Magic designer Francis Libiran, Jerome Ang, Ronaldo Arnaldo, Julius Tarog, Dennis Martin, menswear designer Zxander Tan, Ferdie Abuel, Pia Perey who designed Angelina Jolie’s gown during the premier of “Salt” and Hollywood designer Oliver Tolentino, to name a few.
 
In Cagayan de Oro, Shanon established the Fashion Institute of the Philippines in partnership with local designer Melody “Mimi” Parrel-Pimentel, who is the school’s director.
 
Mimi started weaving her dreams when she was still a young girl helping out in their family-owned construction business, which was located right beside her Aunt Jesse Sia’s dress shop where Mimi spent a lot of time trying to put her fashion ideas into concrete by making her own sketches.
 
Encouraged by her aunt and her parents, Mimi studied at the Madonna School of Fashion and Design in Makati. She graduated in 1994 and worked for her Aunt Jesse, which slowly developed her skills in fashion designing.
 
When her aunt left the country, Mimi took over the business but later put up her own dress shop in 1997, the Mimi Parrel-Pimentel Dress Shop and Boutique. She patiently worked her way from a cramped space with old sewing machines to what we now know as one of Cagayan de Oro’s classiest and most popular dress shops.
 
As she never wants to rest on her laurels, Mimi constantly re-invents herself. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and went to London to study more.
 
When she came home, she learned about the Fashion Institute of the Philippines and decided to enroll. The FIP’s main branch is located in Ortigas but it has two other outlets in Makati and Quezon City.
 
Mimi said she found the FIP’s methods to be really helpful and effective. From then on, she became a staunch supporter of FIP.
 
As she aims to give back what she learns by molding new talents, Mimi decided to open up a fashion designing school in Cagayan de Oro and thought of partnering with Shanon and the FIP.
 
On February 28, the Fashion Institute of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro formally opened. Shanon personally attended the opening as he shared FIP’s mission and vision of reaching out to other people who want to learn the basics of fashion designing.
 
“We want to reach out to everyone and share our knowledge through the FIP. We want our courses affordable so we can reach out more fashion buffs not only in Cagayan de Oro and Mindanao but in the whole country as well,” Shanon said.
 
The Fashion Institute of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro is the first branch of FIP outside Luzon. It offers basic fashion design, basic pattern making, sewing and dressmaking, men’s tailoring, children’s wear, menswear and fashion merchandising.
 
Classes are set to start on Monday, March 7. Those interested may visit the Fashion Institute of the Philippines Cagayan de Oro at the 3rd floor of Jardiniano Bldg. II, #1 San Agustin St. corner Rizal St. or call (088) 857-4884 and 0917-7012005 for details. More information about the FIP is available atwww.fashioninstitutephil.com. (with reports from Maia Fortich-Poblete)