From Palacio de Memoria to the Marriott Grand Ballroom and more locations in between, Fashion Week Asia was a showcase of the region’s fashion at its best. The first three days centered on runway shows featuring designers from the Philippines and across the continent whose presentations highlighted Asia’s rich culture, materials, and heritage. Day four swapped the runway for panel discussions as speakers and experts across several industries came together to talk about the ins and outs of the fashion industry and the continent’s growing place as a hub for craftsmanship and design.
So, as Fashion Week Asia reached its fifth and final day, the historical event needed a grand celebration to cap things off. And it did so by honoring one of Philippine fashion’s most legendary designers while also nodding towards the future of the industry and its boundless potential.
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Inside the Fashion Week Asia Gala Honoring Rajo Laurel
As guests made their way to the inaugural Fashion Week Asia Gala, celebrities, actors, personalities, designers, and more from various fields rubbed shoulders as they commemorated the end of five eventful days of Asian fashion. But as much as guests were there to party and celebrate, they were also there for one man: Rajo Laurel.
As one of the most gifted and influential designers modern Philippine fashion has ever seen, Laurel was the star of the night. Closing Fashion Week Asia was a celebration of the designer with his presentation of ARCHIVO. It served as a gala runway showcase that traced his 33-year journey in the industry so far, which first began in 1993. “There are clothes there that I did when I was 21 years old. It was essentially nostalgic,” Laurel tells MEGA. “I’m in the process of recollection, but at the same time, I’m revealing what perhaps happens next.”
With over three decades in fashion, Laurel turned to his archives for his first-ever collection based on his own work. The result is a presentation rooted in nostalgia, relevance, and truth, as Laurel and his team went through each look one by one to form the slate of creations and ensembles to feature. Most were pulled from archives, some were given new life, and a few pieces were mixed and matched with other looks from previous collections, but all were rooted in the designer’s game-changing vision that inspires many to this day.
After attendees packed the hall, Apples Aberin, Founder & Co-Chair of Fashion Week Asia and Vice President of One Mega Group Lifestyle Media Brands, shared her opening remarks as she thanked all the partners, participating designers, brands, and key individuals who made Fashion Week Asia possible. Then, she turned her attention to the man of the evening as she talked about her decades-long friendship with the designer and how ARCHIVO is special to her, as she produced Laurel’s first gala show when he was just 25 years old.
Afterwards, as the lights dimmed, giant LED panels at the center of the room started playing clips of Laurel and his many, many looks and collections over the years before they were raised to the ceiling, revealing the first model of the show. It was an opening fit for a designer like Rajo Laurel. What followed were 46 looks that helped define his legacy. All were curated from the designer’s one-of-a-kind vault, many of which were as old, if not older, than the models wearing them and even some watching in the crowd.
As each model walked the runway, they were wearing history that still resonated to this day. Adding to the moment was how each look was made in the Philippines and by Filipino artisans, showcasing local talent, artistry, culture, craft, and design. The show lasted for about 30 minutes, but it carried over three decades of creative history, discovery, and innovation that highlighted Laurel’s eye for shape, textures, and silhouettes.
For the finale, all the models walked the runway to the 80s UK pop hit A Little Respect by Erasure, a fitting choice given the song’s meaning to the designer. Then, as Laurel appeared on the runway, he was met with a rousing and much-deserved standing ovation by the crowd.
There are many ways to celebrate over three decades of your work. And for Rajo Laurel, it was through reflection and joy. However, this was far from a final bow, but a triumphant moment for what has been, and what still remains. A moving meditation of the past and a celebration of the future for a designer who has risen the ranks from the bottom of the ladder to being one of its most notable names. It’s a legacy, craft, and creativity worth honoring that continues to shine to this day, while also serving as a reminder of how Fashion Week Asia is a platform for what the region’s artistry is all about.
Featured Image and Photos: Courtesy of FASHION WEEK ASIA. Photographed by EXCEL PANLAQUE of KLIQ INC.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Fashion Week Asia Gala closed the five-day event with a celebration honoring designer Rajo Laurel, featuring his ARCHIVO retrospective — a 46-look presentation tracing his 33-year career, curated entirely from his personal archives.
ARCHIVO was Rajo Laurel’s first-ever collection built from his own archives, featuring 46 looks pulled from over three decades of work, with each piece made in the Philippines by Filipino artisans.
Apples Aberin, Founder and Co-Chair of Fashion Week Asia and Vice President of One Mega Group Lifestyle Media Brands, opened the gala and spoke about her decades-long friendship with Rajo Laurel.
Rajo Laurel’s ARCHIVO finale featured all models walking to Erasure’s “A Little Respect,” followed by Laurel’s own runway appearance, which was met with a standing ovation from the audience at the Fashion Week Asia Gala.
Rajo Laurel’s career spans 33 years, beginning in 1993. His ARCHIVO retrospective at the Fashion Week Asia Gala showcased looks dating back to pieces he designed at age 21, alongside new reinterpretations.
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