By Carby Rose Basina

Manila International Fashion Week, in collaboration with Okada Manila, will unveil its celebration of fashion, film, and faces on Friday, Oct. 28, with the theme “fashion for all”.

The event, according to MIFW, aims to “explore the current state of the fashion industry’s continuing challenges after a hiatus due to the worldwide pandemic.”

Fashion filmmakers worldwide also highlight the first Manila Fashion Film Competition in the Philippines. “Our aim is to combine arts of fashion and film. This is an opportunity for the young filmmakers to showcase their talent in different ways, like films about fashion brands, fashion short films and documentaries. Our purpose is to connect the people behind the fashion and film industry.”

Among the event highlights will include Joana Marie x Catwalk Philippines, a modeling competition in partnership with Sir George Salon, ready to stage its third batch of runway superstars. 

“Joana Marie is the Founder & CEO of I Am Funtabulous by Joana Marie and the newly inducted fashion designer by the Designers Circle Philippines, a 200-member group of seasoned and upcoming fashion designers in the country. She is also the CEO and co-owner of Laurus Enterprises, an events company in the Philippines that organizes internationally-recognized seminars and training related to personal growth and professional development.”

Joining the spectacle is the Young Faces to Watch segment presented by GANAP International Magazine (headed by John Guarnes and Bench Bello) and Young Faces Magazine. The search for Young Faces aims to launch and find young and fresh faces in the fashion, modeling, and entertainment industry. “We want to train and empower the youth and boost their confidence to be the voice and the epitome of the new generation. We want to guide them, mold their skills, enhance their creativity and be the best version of themself as a role model to the youth and in the community.”

The event will benefit FAME Foundation in hopes of supporting the people in the fashion and events industry affected by the current situation, “especially the photographers, videographers, models, [hair and makeup artists], and the people behind the production.”