THE Davao Fashion and Design Council (DFDC) and Abreeza Mall have partnered in bringing out the best in young Mindanawon designers.
Dubbed as "Stellar: Rising Fashion Star," the Mindanao-wide fashion and design competition is aimed at putting to test the vision and skills of the up-and-coming designers as they rethink, create, and innovate a visionary and contemporary take on Mindanao's cultural and artisanal heritage.
During the Fashion Forum at Abreeza Mall on Augusts 12, the initial set of talents who will compete for the chance to prove that he or she is indeed a stellar in fashion and design were presented as DFDC president Aztec Barba and the shopping destination's marketing manager Ruby Ochoa signed a memorandum of agreement.
DFDC's Dodjie Batu and Emi Englis pointed out the initiative is something unique since it combines design ideation and business incubation.
They noted the Philippine Women's College of Davao served as its academe partner with its Information Technology, Business Administration and Fine Arts programs joining forces to train eventual winners for the design ideation and business incubation education.
As Stellar's maiden edition is focused on the theme "I AMindanao," the 10 young designers from all over Mindanao are expected to interpret the island, its people, and its culture through a five-piece capsule collection.
In a statement, Abreeza Mall said the collections featured in the competition are packed "with a global perspective that tweaks Mindanao artisanal heritage to create wearable and marketable garments using manipulated, commercially available materials or traditional and indigenous textiles."
Among the 10 competing designers, three of them will emerge as winners with the top competitor going home with P50,000, the second with P30,000, and the third with P20,000.
Aside from the cash prizes, the three of them will also enjoy mentorship from DFDC.
Aries Buenvenida, Neil Patrick Jimlani, Wilson Limon, Jr., Lala Luz, and Mandy Velasco from Davao City; Chard Pulatche from Davao del Norte; Mimi Tandingan from Davao Occidental; Frankie Galagnara from Cagayan de Oro City; Marlon Suan from Tagum City; and Mark Joseph Sayad from the Island Garden City of Samal will conquer the stage of Abreeza Mall Activity Center on August 26.
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