CEBU’S very own Hanz Coquilla is set to present his collection at Macao Fashion Festival 2019.
This is Hanz Coquilla Alta Costura’s brand show and will showcase vibrant and light designs from his Spring/Summer 2020 collection, inspired by the beaches of Cebu, and captured so by blending classic and romantic elements.
This year, audiences will get to see some firsts on the runway like the crochet line—a collaborative effort with Hanz’s sister Tizri Coquilla Montebon—that they will be launching through the collection, and the presentation of some Terno pieces; a first for the fashion festival.
“Aside from the fact that we are the first Filipino brand to ever get invited and to participate in the said event, this will also be the first time ever that a Terno is brought to the Macao Fashion Festival (MFF) runway. It’s some sort of a debut for the Philippine Terno on the MFF runway,” said Coquilla.
For the designer, showing the Terno isn’t just about bringing something new to the runway. It’s also to correct some assumptions about the country’s national dress.
“It’s like a global campaign that anyone can actually wear a Terno at any event or any time of the day. We would like to correct the notion that the Terno is only an evening wear or a national costume for a pageant. We are making the Terno wearable and relatable, especially to the young audience,” he said, citing some scenarios of what it would be like wearing the national dress while walking the pavements of Mykonos, or the alleys of the South of France. All in all, Coquilla hopes that the audience will appreciate each design in the collection, as well as Filipino talent.
This is the designer’s third time to be back with his partner, admin and marketing executive of the company Coq888, Ichael Stevan Serneo.
“We’ve been coming back to the place for three years now and it feels like the first time, every time. We’ve known everyone from the organizers to the models to the show director. We’re no longer strangers to the place. It feels crazy sometimes though looking at my photos on billboards, public transportation and hotels. People would sometimes come to me and ask for a photo or two. It’s crazy,” said Coquilla.
“Ichael and I found a home in Macao. Macao being the first country to open its doors for our brand, we can’t help but be emotional. Macao has been great to us.”
Macao Fashion Festival will be held at Florence Hall, The Venetian Macao from Oct. 17 to 19 and will be held during the 24th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair.
CREDIT
HMUA: Popoy Delano
Stylist: Ichael Stevan Serneo and JM Jusay
Photographer: Ed Durano
Models: Xyca Datan, Maria Sacal and Debbie Akubor of Mytheiuss Models and Artist Management
Project coordinator: Gino Montesclaros Cabrera of Sublime Setup Studios
Production assistant: Lea Sanchez