DESPITE the bumpy start that at first sought to make the Miss Universe 2016 Davao leg just a venue for a tapestry show by Manila couturier Renee Salud, the Mindanao Tapestry Show of the pageant was staged complete with the creations of Davao fashion designers who used tribal inspirations and materials.
Of the 28 candidates who arrived, the designers were tasked to dress up ten in their best creations in this once in a lifetime opportunity.
The fashion guru of Davao, Alfonso "Boy" Guinoo, who was among those who demanded that a Mindanao Tapestry Show can never be one without Mindanaoan artists, was assigned to dress up Miss Philippines Maxine Medina. Guinoo whipped out a signature Guinoo gown that had all the accessories.
The other Davao designers and the candidates they dressed up are: Silverio Anglacer for Miss Myanmar Htet Htet Htun, Egay Ayag for Sierra Leone Hawa Kamara, Aztec Barba for Miss USA Deshuana Barber, Dodjie Batu for Miss India Roshmitha Harimurthy, Edgar Buyan for Miss Bulgaria Violina Ancheva, Emi Englis for Miss Paraguay Melgarejo Gonzale, Kenny Ladaga for Miss Tanzania Jihan Dimack, Stellar Winner Wilson Limon for Miss Hungary Veronika Bodizs, and Benjie Panizales for Miss Switzerland Dijana Cvijetic.
The local artists drew inspiration from the attires of Mindanao tribes, making use of accents and colors that speak out of their origins.
From beads, to bangles of brass, and feathers and tassels, with geometric designs at the centerstage, the Davao Fashion and Design Council Foundation Inc. (DFDCFI) were right in saying that a Mindanao Tapestry Show cannot be set up without Mindanaoan fashion designers who know their materials and lines by heart.
Many among the locals drew from Bagobo lines and colors, like Englis, Limon, and Barba because of the limited time given for their creations, Bagobo being a Davao tribe and their artisans can easily be reached. But the satin sheen of Moro tribal attires were apparent as well and the details of Miss Tanzania's Mandaya inspired blouse by Kenny Ladaga was dazzling in its boldness and details.
The designers knew that beyond just the geometric lines, Mindanao tapestry is about details and so they brought out details in the gowns they made.