Republished with permission from http://www.radyo-filipino-australia.com/
Fashion Parade at the Canberra Hyatt Ballroom, Filipino Style!
The Philippine Embassy in Canberra organised a spectacular celebration of Filipino culture and traditional woven costume on and off the catwalk called “Habol Ilonggo: A Heritage of Traditional Weaving” as part of the Philippine Independence Day celebrations.
The catwalk was held on June 19 at the Federation Ballroom of the Canberra Hyatt, considered by many as Canberra’s premier hotel, next to Capital Hill.
National and international models showcased the best of Philippine traditional and modern fashion made from Philippine hand-loomed textiles.
Among the invited guests of the night were dignitaries including some Australian senators, embassy officials and their uniformed military attachés from around the world, high-level Foreign Affairs and Trade officials, the Papal Ambassador to Australia, a senior executive officer of Philippine Airlines and other distinguished guests. They were warmly welcomed near the entrance by a line-up of the Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Minda Calaguian-Cruz and her husband, along with other senior officials of the Philippine Embassy.
The lady models looked stunning and the guys gorgeous in their traditional clothing which they strutted in the Federation Ballroom as they wove their way with fashionable style down the catwalk.
The crowd stayed entertained and enthralled throughout the fashion parade as the models showed a great variety of costumes unique to the Philippines.
The parade brought together contemporary fashion design from the Philippines and traditional Filipino hand-loomed textiles, including piña, jusi, patadyong, polyabaca, abaca and hablon.
The event showcased five of the Philippines’ top contemporary designers and included demonstrations of traditional hand weaving looms.
