It was a night of luxury and elegance as global Japanese designer Tadashi Shoji unveiled his Fall-Winter 2013 Collection.

A show for the benefit of The Assumption Transformative School in Passi, Iloilo, Rustan’s and Tadashi brought fashion to another level for this worthy cause.

Spearheaded by Rustan’s president Zenaida R. Tantoco, the festive gathering was presented by Rustan’s with HSBC. Shangri-La Makati prepared the sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, and Bea Tantoco performed.

Zenaida R. Tantoco and Tadashi presented a check of $5,000 to Assumption’s Sr. Mary Fidelis, RA, and Sr. Bernadette Eugenie Casas, RA. It was the designer’s donation to the foundation.

A bigger amount was raised by the gathering for the Assumption cause to help more students.

There were also three lucky winners who won P20,000 worth of Rustan’s gift certificates from HSBC and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be styled by Tadashi, himself.

Gigi Pio de Roda, HSBC head of retail banking and wealth management, said, “We at HSBC are proud to partner with Rustan’s for an evening featuring the works of well-renowned fashion icon, Tadashi Shoji. HSBC shares the vision of providing opportunities to further education in the country; and continuously make a meaningful difference in the communities where we operate.”

Inspired by the splendor of the Russian empire and the eventual fall of imperial rule, high-back vestments of Russia’s Orthodox clergy influenced the collection’s back structure, voluminous shapes and trapeze silhouettes. It married aristocratic style with folkloric details, giving the fashion presentation a historical background and taste. The Fall-Winter collection consisted of 40 looks that captured the confidence of the modern woman.

The A-list crowd  included Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Isabelle Garachon, Dutch Ambassador Ton Boon von Ochssée and Martine Boon von Ochssée, European Union Ambassador Guy Ledoux and Margaret Ledoux, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission Alfonso Tagliaferri, Shangri-La Makati general manager Alain Jean Borgers, Francis Zamora and Kerry Zamora, Angie de Villa Lacson, Criselda Lontok, and Inno Sotto.