HAUTE TEXTURE: A COLLECTION BY ERIC RAISINA AT FASHION WATCH 2011

The much raved about fashion series is back for good, amped up and better than ever! This year 2011 marks the revival of Fashion Watch as they kick-off with their first ASEAN designer in the roster.

With only Filipino designers in the past, Fashion Watch Quartet widens its influence together with the Alliance Française de Manille and the Embassy of France to the Philippines as they present the French-Malagasy Fashion Designer Eric Raisina in a unique fashion show featuring Eric Raisina’s collection “Haute Texture” on April 13, 2011 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. Eric Raisina’s fashion show will be followed by a private sale.

Eric Raisina, a designer based in Cambodia showcases his special collection “Haute Texture”. His designs are composed of unique pieces and accessories which demonstrate his passion and talent for style. He specializes in design and sewing natural materials such as silk, raffia, sisal, linen and cotton. His taste for exploration compelled him to discover new cultures and diverse techniques in Africa as well as in Asia. His collections have been shown in Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States.

Winning the prize of New Young Talent at the Fashion Festival and Textile Competition Manja enabled him to study in Paris at the Ecole Duperré where he excelled in the creation of textiles. He began entering his creations in the Haute Couture shows in Paris, and graduated with a Master’s degree from the Institut français de la Mode in 1999.

Various experiences gave him the confidence to start his own workshop where he trained weavers, seamstresses and embroiderers. Research began on new textures, colors, unique weave patterns, most notably Silk Fur (for which he has a patent) and Natural Raffia lace. He was commissioned to create unique textures for the fashion houses of Yves Saint- Laurent and Christian Lacroix. The textures, in and of themselves, inspire the creation of his collection without resorting to the need for sketches.

Fashion Watch Quartet, a fashion show series initially created by Richard Tann and Inno Sotto, sprung unto the scene in 1996. Shows were held twice a year and served as avenues for promising young designers to showcase their talent and have their work displayed for all to see. Year after year, the much awaited series brought to the forefront fresh new talent and the most exciting fashion.

As it returns to the fashion scene for 2011, Fashion Watch Quartet will run from March to November, 2011. Each week will feature the collection of two designers in back-to-back format, who will have his/her creations unveiled to all through a fashion show held at the lobby area of the prestigious Shangri-La Makati Hotel. Besides its regular shows, Fashion Watch will stage special shows as SEVERAL internationally known ASEAN designers will be flown in to display their creations to the Filipino public. Fashion Watch 2011 is a project of the CFDP (Council of Fashion Designers of the Philippines).

“Haute Texture” is a FrancoPhil event organized by Fashion Watch, the Alliance Française de Manille and the French Embassy to the Philippines with the support of Air France-KLM, Total, Veolia Water and Makati Shangri-La hotel.

Fashion Watch 2011 is presented by Olay, Makati Shangri-la Hotel, Philippine Star, Preview Magazine, Starworld and Stylebible.ph in cooperation with BMW and Metro Pacific Investments.

Triumph Inspiration Award 2011 (Berlin Beckons)

Global leader and lingerie giant, Triumph International, is set to break records this year with the Triumph Inspiration Award 2011. Now on its 4^th consecutive year, the competition is at its biggest with 37 participating countries, with the grand finals taking center stage at the opening night of the Berlin Fashion Week in July no less.

Poised to capture design talent from around the world, Triumph International worked hand in hand with local prestigious fashion and design schools to bringing the competition at the grass roots level. Triumph International Philippines, in partnership with the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFa), has geared up for the Triumph Inspiration Award 2011, with ten students vying to represent the Philippines in the international finals.

Judging this year’s national competition to be held on April 13 at Members Only, are some of fashion and design luminaries, which include Rissa Mananquil, Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Dong Omaga-Diaz, joined by 2008 Triumph Inspiration Award National Winner and now fashion designer, Ralph Ng, and Head of Sales & Marketing of Triumph International Philippines, Lorelei de Leon.

As if things cannot get any bigger this year, 2011 also marks the 125^th anniversary of Triumph, to which the young designers will be creating their interpretations of the theme “125 Years of Celebrating Women.” Admittedly quite a challenge and pressure for the contestants, the top ten final designs ranging from romantic, tribal, down to avant-garde, did not disappoint. CREATIONS Salon, by top hair and make-up artist Lourd Ramos, lent its creative expertise in enhancing each and every peg from the look book, making the judging quite a feat with all the entries now equally strong contenders to be the Philippines’ official entry in the finals.

With the competition tougher as ever, Triumph has taken the match online and making your votes count to determine the People’s Choice Award. Visit the Triumph International Philippines fan page to view the final designs and cast a vote for your favorite pieces.

It would be too ambitious to say that we will win in the finals, but one thing is for sure, the Philippines is in it to win it, and we are taking Berlin by storm.