Two years can change the meaning of an invitation. When Archie G. Carrasco attended The BoF 500 Gala in 2024, he was among the Filipinos who represented the country at one of fashion’s biggest annual gatherings. This year, he returns as one of its members.
The Chairman and CEO of AGC Power Holdings Corp. joins The BoF 500 Class of 2026 under Media. He’s the latest Filipino included in the global community Imran Amed established in 2013. Each year, The Business of Fashion founder reunites the industry’s power players, both familiar and new.
RELATED: Archie G. Carrasco, the Original MEGA Man, Is Named to The BoF 500
AGC Power Holdings Corp. Chief Business Officer and Executive Partner Randolf Palanca accompanied Carrasco at the gala, with Heart Evangelista also representing the country. Carrasco is the fifth Filipino inducted into The BoF 500 after Stephen Gan and Bryan Grey Yambao entered its inaugural class in 2013, followed by Mark “Jappy” Gonzalez in 2017 and Anton Tantoco Huang in 2025.
A Parisian Evening With The BoF 500
The gala came near the midpoint of Paris Fashion Week, when several designers had fresh runway collections to discuss. Sarah Burton presented her womenswear lineup for Givenchy just the day before, while Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez had just shown their third outing for Loewe. Likewise, Satoshi Kondo presented Issey Miyake’s S/S27 Figure of Ma.
As for Rachel Scott, she attended the gala weeks after a busy New York Fashion Week. Her Proenza Schouler collection preceded S/S27 for Diotima, the independent label where she first established her name. Marine Serre, Louise Trotter, Iris van Herpen, Raul Lopez, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, LaQuan Smith, Bianca Saunders, Mike Amiri, Tolu Coker, and Patricio Campillo were present as well.
Law Roach, Coco Rocha, Paloma Elsesser, Winnie Harlow, Iris Law, Ciara, Damson Idris, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Heidi and Lou Klum, Serge Ibaka, Kenia Os, Dylan Kelly, Davika Hoorne, Keng Harit, and Napatsakorn Pingmuang were also part of the guest list that aptly reflected just how wide The BoF 500’s orbit has grown.
From The BoF 500 to Fashion Week Asia
The BoF 500 welcomed a hundred new members this year, including aespa’s Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning, Thai actresses Lingling Kwong and Orm Kornnaphat, Nigo, Soshi Otsuki, Naomi Osaka, Eileen Gu, Teyana Taylor, Connor Storrie, and Hudson Williams.
Carrasco enters this community with an ambition he articulated ahead of Vogue Philippines’ 2022 launch, when he spoke about Filipino talent being ready for the international audience. He has since put his larger purpose into simpler words: “To bridge the Philippines to the world.”
His plans have continued in the same direction. With Harper’s BAZAAR Philippines set to launch in November 2027 through its partnership with Hearst, AGC Power Holdings Corp. continues to expand its ties with global fashion and lifestyle media. The company now operates with more avenues for local stories to reach readers outside the country.
Without a doubt, his mission looks past publishing. From October 20 to 24, Carrasco’s Fashion Week Asia is set to gather designers across the region and showcase their work in Manila. Homegrown creatives Rajo Laurel, Rosanna Ocampo, Kelvin Morales, Maligaya’s Roko Arceo, and NOVEL’s Prince Padilla are among those participating. Joining them are TOTON’s Toton Januar, KILOMET109’s Vu Thao, PONDER.ER’s Alex Po and Derek Cheng, DUC STUDIO’s Minh Duc Nguyen, WISHARAWISH’s Wisharawish Akarasantisook, Sophie Hong, BAJUYO’s Darni Park, and PLAZÄ’s Anisah Farid.
Everything That Comes After
Worldwide recognition for our community is no longer an abstract aspiration—not when our names recur within institutions like The BoF 500, our designers attract international clientele, and our celebrities like Heart Evangelista, Kylie Verzosa, Anne Curtis, and Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey continue to appear on international front rows.
Carrasco’s induction is significant within a relationship that already exists, as every new connection he creates is another opportunity to uplift our community. The world already knows Philippine fashion is stellar! His intent, really, is to strengthen that bridge to ensure we’re unforgettable.
Photos: GETTY IMAGES FOR BUSINESS OF FASHION
Recommended Video
Latest Posts
Latest Issue
