In Cebu, homegrown jewelry brand Oro China may be known for being quiet and understated, but this year, it decided to up the decibel when it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a fashion show at Radisson Blu Cebu.
The milestone celebration gathered some of the best-loved names in fashion, from Manila’s Randy Ortiz, Rajo Laurel, and Francis Libiran to Cebu’s Arcy Gayatin, Philip Rodriguez, Jun Escario and Cary Santiago.
While each designer had presented solo shows for Oro China through the years, it was the first time all seven came together to create custom pieces for the jewelry brand.
The show opened with Ortiz’s luxe champagne and ivory collection, his embroidered pieces and ladylike silhouettes serving as the perfect backdrop for Oro China’s diamonds set in white gold.
It was followed by Laurel’s slinky, metallic pieces that were reminiscent of Bianca Jagger at Studio 54. Maybe she would have accessorized with rose gold jewelry too.
Neoprene dresses
Gayatin had a black neoprene collection of cocktail dresses, gowns and chic separates, embellished with cheeky pink flamingos done in multi-fabric patchwork because, you know, a print would have been too easy. They were as bold and playful as the Italian gold pieces that were worn with them.
Bringing more color to the runway were Rodriguez’s rich, jewel-tone ballgowns, an ideal complement to Oro China’s covetable emeralds.
Blissful, newlywed Libiran showed us why he’s a red carpet favorite with an all-black collection of perfectly pleated gowns that showed off Oro China’s stunning blue sapphires.
Escario, who was celebrating his birthday that same day, showed effortless pieces in ivory, black, and navy, reminding us that glamour need not be constricting. It can be easy too. Just throw on layers of pearls and pile on the jewelry, like he did.
Finally, we were back to full-on glamour with Santiago’s all-white collection, showcasing his signature laser-cut details and masterful manipulation of silhouettes, serving as the ultimate backdrop for Oro China’s gold and ruby jewelry and a fitting finale for a sparkler of a night.
