I have bragging rights to being friends with Chito Vijandre for more than 50 years now.
At the peak of his career 30 odd years ago, Chito Vijandre set his sewing tools down, and said goodbye to fashion design.
Is it a dream or is it a joke? That’s the usual reaction when shoppers see the window displays at AC+632 at Greenbelt 5 and Firma at Greenbelt 3.
It will surely be an October to remember as we mount the eighth edition of the Red Charity Gala on Oct. 8 in our new home, the Shangri-La Hotel at the Fort. With my gracious cochair Kaye Tiñga, we are honored and excited to present the fashion collection of prolific designer Chito Vijandre. Directed by Ariel Lozada, this annual charity event highlights the creativity and craftsmanship of Filipino fashion designers
Chito Vijandre’s reentry into the fashion scene after an absence of 25 years was nothing short of phenomenal. Here are his haute couture numbers shown at the Tribute to Slim’s at 50 held at the recent Philippine Fashion Week. It was like Shanghai in the ’30s, with Art Deco colors and geometric silhouettes; the colors were vivid in brocade, voiles, gold mesh; and the accessories echoed the treasures found in Vijandre’s Firma, the very famous boutique.
When you talk of fine jewelry, are spikes, horns, pegs, gears and clamps the things that come to mind? They sound more like tools from a torture chamber, rather than material for a delicate set of cuffs and earrings.
Joey Samson is the featured designer of Red Charity Gala 2017
All the red I’m seeing around, along with the Christmas décor, is giving me serious Red Charity Gala throwback fever.
A Filipino fashion designer made history in Paris couture in 2016, while a Filipino clothing brand made its debut at New York Fashion Week.
