Season 3 of Project Runway Philippines has started and silly me was only able to catch the second episode this week!

I was a huge, HUGE fan of the show’s first season. It had it all: sharply drawn characters, great design and a nail-biting finale with three designers whose aesthetics could not be any more different. The second season, however, left me cold after a few episodes. Sad to say that there just wasn’t any…zing! All the designers genuinely liked each other and the winner was a super nice guy. Sounds like a lovely workplace, but it made for pretty dull TV.

Fortunately, the new season seems to take things in a new direction and I’m going to set my clock to start watching this every Sunday (it’s at 8pm, folks!). Episode 2, “Young and Indigenous” centered on creating a young, sophisticated outfit for fashion blogger Camille Co to wear to an event. The twist was that they had to use indigenous Filipino fabrics. I thought it was genius, as ikat and tribal prints have been making a big splash in international runways and high street chains, so the time is ripe to promote our own beautiful, traditional design! Not all designers were as enthusiastic, though. There were some wonderful hits – and some not-so-great misses. (All photos from the Project Runway Philippines site.)

The good

(Left, dress by Nel Claveria Jr.; Right: Glenn Gonzalez)

These two were some of my favorites and they took a similar approach to translating the challenge: use the fabric patterns as a design element and work them into a clean, body-conscious silhouette. That instantly modernized the pieces and made them look fresh and covetable. I do have one caveat though: Holy Hemlines, Batman! Designers, your clients have to sit down, too!

Enzo Libo-On’s winning design

But then this came out and put all the other dresses to shade. Enzo Libo-On’s challenge-winning, hand-painted dress was youthful and stylish. That gradient, dip-dyed effect is very much on-trend now and the appliqués added a dose of interest. I particularly appreciated how he moved away from the body-con instinct and instead showed a mod, trapeze silhouette. I’m a bad reviewer for not taking note of what fabric this was, but Apples Aberin did mention that it was a difficult fabric to make light and breezy. Kudos, Enzo!

The bad



(Left, Fatima Guerrero; Right, Joseph Montelibano)

These were the bottom two dresses. Fatima’s dress lost her the challenge and will be forever seared in my memory after Rajo Laurel likened it to “kulangot on a handkerchief.” (Ouch.) But I was leaning on Joseph’s design to get cut. It was all Dita Sandico Ong on top and Alodia Gosengfiao on the bottom, and the judges pointed out he didn’t even seem to listen to his client.

The puzzling

(Left, Ionica Abrahan; right, Amor Albano)

If there’s one thing I wish Project Runway contestants would stop doing, it’s the convertible garment trick! Please stop sending down dresses that transform into playsuits or miniskirts that become ballgowns or whatever. It’s gimmicky and it rarely translates to real life. Ionica’s design flew under the judge’s radar but it made my eyes twitch when it went down the runway. Again, this is supposed to be for an event. With the skirt on, this design is fairly blah, so does that mean the wearer should periodically remove the skirt and show her hotpants just to make this interesting? Should she leave the back clipped on and make a mullet dress out of it? So confusing!

Finally, Amor Albano’s structured, sculptural design won a lot of raves from the judges – and it appeared to be Camille’s second favorite design. However, I felt it was a bit too costume-y. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a statement-making look – but doesn’t it feel like it belongs more on an editorial spread or magazine cover? I can’t imagine this worn at night to a party all normal and nonchalant, unless maybe if one were Tessa Prieto Valdes. 

Tune in next week: I wonder who Rajo chastises with the words “Safe is the opposite of greatness” (tattoo material!) in the promos!


Katrina Atienza, writer, wife, mom of two and fashion devotee, blogs at Plus Size Fasyon Mudra. Follow her on Twitter (@iggyatienza).