The country’s boldest young designers showcased their talents at the biennial Philippine Fashion & Design Competition (PFDC) held March 25 at the New Activity Center of Glorietta in Makati, an event made possible by Champion Infinity Detergent and Shokubutsu Hana Shampoo.

t0502fdcp_1 — GABBIE Sarenas, whose creations won the Infinite Terno Award “for embodying the infinite woman”; with Champion brandmanager Caloy Bacani (right)

This year, the Fashion & Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP), which hosted the event, called on young aspiring Filipino designers to interpret the country’s national costume in modern times to create Today’s Terno. Thirteen finalists were tasked to create wearable pieces while staying true to the terno’s form through the use of indigenous materials, cloths and weaves.

Designer Tony Evan from Albay bagged the grand prize, which includes seed money for his clothing line and an all expense paid scholarship to a world-renowned fashion school in London.

Fashion legends, meanwhile, created pieces to pay homage to two of the night’s sponsors. JC Buendia made the Infinite Terno, which best embodied Champion Infinity. The wearable piece defied limits and boundaries by merging fashion with comfort.

Joey Samson crafted the Beauty of Nature Terno for Hana Shampoo, the hair care brand that encourages women to achieve beauty the natural way. He used natural fabrics to create a masterpiece that allows the wearer’s natural beauty to shine through.

Special awards were given to two finalists whose designs best describe Champion Infinity and Hana Shampoo. Gabbie Sarenas from Manila received the Infinite Terno Award for her

t0502fdcp_2 — VINCE Tolentino, who won the Beauty of Nature Terno Award, and Peerless consumer marketing manager Norman Mier

trendy yet wearable creations, while Bicol’s Vince Tolentino took home the Beauty of Nature Terno Award for his designs that showed why the terno has remained relevant through the years.

Modern-day beauties also came alive that night as models paraded their beautiful hair sans the carefully coiffed look, to show their beauty achieved the natural way.

FDCP is a group of Filipino designers that encourages the development of the Philippine design industry to promote local talents on a global scale. Champion Infinity Detergent and Hana Shampoo’s support for this year’s PFDC not only pushed the event to the top, but also put the spotlight on the country’s budding designers and their world-class talents.