The FDAP: The Beginnings
With the rise of young male fashion designers following the footsteps of the phenomenal Ramon Valera in the late ’50s, there had been attempts to unite them into one solid group to make their presence felt in the exclusive circle of high society. Thus, in 1958, the young Turks of Philippine fashion, namely, Pitoy Moreno, Ben Farrales, Aureo Alonzo, Casimiro Abad, Ernie Arandia, Arturo Cruz, Rudy Dandan, Gilbert Perez, Emil Valdez and much later Christian Espiritu bonded together to form the Philippine Couture Association. The pioneering designers group became the darling of fashion impresario Conching Sunico, who brought their collections to the Seattle World’s Fair in 1961 and in the world tour of the Karilagan International.
“We were quite influential. We had our own set of models, the likes of Joji Felix, Conchitina Sevilla, Bambi Lammoglia, Toni Serrano, Cristy Flores, Barbara Perez, and we would teach them how to model before the camera or before an audience in Botica Boie,” recalls Perez, who has become a successful art director in such notable publications as the Manila Chronicle, People magazine, the Philippine Tribune and the Philippine Graphic magazine.
The success of their association spawned another designing group, the Fashion Designers Guild of the Philippines, spearheaded by Valera himself and the dames of Philippine fashion like Salvacion Lim-Higgins of Slim’s, Pilar Ver- Romack of New Yorker, Vicky Galang of Madonna’s, and Gunding Noguera of Très Chic, along with Tony Abeto, Karlos Burgos, Bert Hernandez and Pedrito Legaspi. “They had their own set of models, too, and we all competed professionally for clients and fashion show projects,” Perez adds.
Additional Info: The FDAP and the Industry
The FDAP’s sudden burst into the fashion scene was a welcome news to the various groups and agencies in the garment and design industry. Acknowledging the creative talent, the energy, the diligence and the many great strides that these designers have achieved in the past years, the major players in the industry such as the textile millers, garment manufacturers, foreign buyers and government agencies like the Center for International Trade, Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the Garments and Textiles Export Board (GTEB) and the Design Center were pleased to know that they can now deal officially with a representative body.
With the tremendous positive response they generated, the FDAP’s core group, made up of Tan-Gan, Gaupo, Ramos, dela Cuesta, dela Rosa, Badidoy, Melgar, Abella, Vijandre, Popioco and Peralta, lost no time in mounting projects that will finally help them meet one major objective—that is, for the Filipino designers to successfully penetrate the international market.
With proper linkages established, the FDAP was literally deluged with numerous invitations for local trade shows and trade missions abroad. “Those were glorious years,” recalls dela Cuesta. “With technical inputs from either CITEM or GTEB, we would come up with prototype collections for selling missions in Asia, Europe and the USA.” Dela Cuesta was fortunate enough to be sent to most of the foreign missions along with Tan-Gan, Gaupo, dela Rosa, Pando and Gomez, among others. Doubly lucky, he was later invited to attend a training course in Japan by the Japan External Trade Organization and awarded a scholarship grant in fashion merchandising in New York. The association, indeed, opened a lot of doors for its members.
Feedback/Comments/Suggestions: (Max. 255 chars)
(Pls. include your emailadd if you are doing an inquiry, so that the company concerned can reply)
Note: For any corrections or updates on this account.
Please email us info@totalbeautyplus.com
Hi, Im Graphic Artist and Fashion Illustrator, how can i join your fashion organization its really nice and interesting by the way my contact number is 09204551686.
meg Posted Date: 2010-05-07 @ 110.55.9.82
hi. im a fashion designer and i would like to know, how can i join your prestigious association like FDAP and Fashion designers guild of the philippines?im really interested. please mail me at megvillafuerte@gmail.com.thanks!
Good day.
I am Joanna Leviste, one of the employees of Center for International Trade Expositions and Mission under the Department of Trade and Industries. We are organizing a very big international trade show, in which there will be a workshop and a
i'm a student from U.S.T. and i'm currently doing a research about the fashion industry in the Philippines, i just would like to know the different fashion shows and events that your engaged to, thank you very much.
Hello,
Elite Laser Hair Removal Services is giving you a free underarm treatment. Pls contact us at tel 9289242 cell 0927-3404254 email elitelaser@hotmail.com. Just mention promo code: Multiply. Thanks Elite Laser.
oliver Posted Date: 2009-03-10 @ 124.106.251.94
do you have branch there in rizal?i would like to inquire in your school.i wanna know the tuition fee and the duration of class.thank you..sent me details.oliver-4567@yahoo.com
mau pineda Posted Date: 2009-02-05 @ 122.52.36.136
Dear Sir/Madam:
Greetings! In line with our activities, we would like to offer your company a venue for your upcoming events for FREE.
We are the Marketing group of Megaworld Corporation, a premier real estate development company founded
The Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAP) in TotalBeautyplus.com Website and Blogs
Search our Directory
Sponsors:
Our Affiliates
e-Nurselink Website for Nursing and Healthcare related stuff
Disclaimer:All
pictures, infos and articles on this site were found on the
net and
are believed to be public domain. If you are the owner of any
of those found here and
you wish it to be removed, contact us and we will do it immediately.
The FDAP: The Beginnings
Otey Trencio
