UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) Cebu students dazzled and won the crowd’s approval during the Aboitiz Foundation’s Green Fashion Revolution (GFR), an inter-school fashion design competition that aims to promote and emphasize environment-friendly practices.
The Green Fashion Revolution was first held in 2012 and has been looked forward to by different colleges and universities, posing a challenge to the younger generation to create and express their love for fashion and the environment through the use of recycled materials.
“It’s this generation who has the power to change the future,” judge and Communities Organized for Research Allocation (CORA) member Antoinette Taus said.
The awards for best clothing design, best bag design, best accessories and best footwear design were all given to the participants from UP Cebu, who were awarded the overall champion during the competition held last Nov. 25 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall.
UP Cebu student Lira Princess Cadorna, 19, shares her thoughts on the competition.
What’s the inspiration for your collection?
The inspiration of our collection was Frida Kahlo. Like Frida Kahlo, we believe that the environment can rise from the oppression caused by pollution.
What materials did you use and how did you gather them?
We used clothes and materials that we usually neglect, worn out clothes that we just put at the back of the closet or those that are thrown away.
What was the most challenging part about this competition?
The most challenging part was the manpower since you can’t really tell what kind of people you’ll be working with. But in the end, we were able to pull through all the hardships.
Which beneficiary would you like to help?
We’ve always thought of Barangay Kamputhaw as our beneficiary. That barangay is something that’s just on the other side of the fence and we would like to be able to help them. By making them our beneficiary, we would be able to help those who can’t really help themselves.
What environment-friendly practices can you share with the youth?
My only advice is that you start small. It’s not like you’re just going stop using plastic all of a sudden. You have to do your research first because if you don’t do your research, you might just end up adding to the pollution.
Meanwhile, Cebu Institute of Technology University garnered the most likes on Facebook and received the People’s Choice award. The Fashion Institute of the Philippines Cebu won first runner-up, Cebu Technological University was second runner-up, while Saint Theresa’s College was third runner-up.
Other schools that participated in this year’s competition are the Fashion Institute of Design and Arts and the Cebu Technological University Argao Campus. (All photos downloaded from Aboitiz Foundation’s Facebook page) (Joelle Pilande, USC Mass Comm Intern)