Carissa Cruz Evangelista

Prior to launching her brand, Carissa Cruz-Evangelista worked with community-based enterprises and assisted livelihood communities in the Philippines’ deprived neighborhoods. To this day, her brand Beatriz continues its collaboration with communities and its promotion of the Philippines’ local craftsmanship while making waves in the global fashion industry.

Jackie C. Aquino

Jackie Aquino (JCA) is among the most respected and experienced fashion show and events directors in the country, with a splendid career that spans nearly four decades. JCA has been behind some of the most memorable events – from fashion shows to product launches, concerts and corporate productions–including the MetroWear fashion series and Inquirer Lifestyle Face-Off. He has staged shows not only around the country but also abroad. Among his first-rate clients are Hermes, Gucci, Bulgari, Samsung, Ayala Malls, Philippine Airlines and The Peninsula Manila. Aquino majored in literature at De La Salle University, Manila. Jackie is one of the mentors of Fashion Show Production.

JC Buendia

JC Buendia hardly needs an introduction–he has spent over 30 years designing wedding gowns and couture, and his work has long been immortalized on the runway and in the glossy pages of fashion magazines throughout the years. He served the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines as its president for two consecutive terms. JC is one of the mentors of Women’s Wear Design.

Amina Aranaz-Alunan

A recognized name among many fashion circles, Amina Aranaz-Alunan wears many hats in the industry. She currently serves as the current President of the Fashion & Design Council of the Philippines. She has also played an important role in developing young Filipino creatives as she is the co-founder of the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA) Design Institute.

Amina is also part of the mother-daughter trio behind the bag brand ARANAZ, known for having “a heart for Filipino craftsmanship” through the employment of women weavers, and the patronage of indigenous and locally-sourced materials. ARANAZ is stocked all over the world from Asia, France, Russia to the United States in named boutiques as well as department stores such as Berdgorf Goodman, Le Bon Marche, Lane Crawford, Browns, Selfridges and Harrods to name a few.

Esme Palaganas

Esme Palaganas (b. 1993) is a Creative & Management Professional with over 12 years of diverse and progressive experience in design, PR and Marketing, project management and consulting. Her works lie in the intersection of design, culture, and innovation. Since graduating from De La Salle – College of St. Benilde, her designs have been stocked in designer boutiques across the country, represented the Philippines abroad and garnered several industry accolades throughout the years. From a designer role, Esme evolved to a management role for several creative enterprises and initiatives— as the lead for Basic Movement, co-founder and partner of PHx Fashion Conference and as one of the main proponents of Dama Ko, Lahi Ko (a heritage campaign). As a consultant, she has worked with incubation programs, private brands, manufacturing companies and government agencies. Esme is the current and inaugural Visiting Lecturer of De La Salle University Manila’s Fashion Marketing class. She is currently taking a Masters in Innovation, Creativity and Leadership at City University of London – Bayes Business School through the prestigious UK Government Chevening Scholarship. Her further affiliations are with the UNCTAD eTrade for Women (ASEAN) and Fashion Design Council of the Philippines.

Philip Rodriguez

The name, “Philip Rodriguez” is as synonymous to Cebu fashion as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O are to classic beauty. A highly regarded fashion icon in the region, his artistic roots began when he took over managing his family’s atelier “Piere Angeli”. His talent in fashion did not go unnoticed by the high officials of the state and the socialites of the country who took patronage to his sophisticated, classic and stylish designs. Philip served as the Dean to Cebu Fashion bringing with him over thirty years of experience under his belt.

Gina Nebrida Ty

Gina Nebrida Ty, continues to draw her creative inspiration from everyday stories, events and people around her as the designer and social entrepreneur behind Agsam Fashion Fern. The brand creates a unique collection of fashion accessories that are handcrafted by the indigenous people of Surigao del Sur. Uncompromising of craftsmanship while being guided by heritage, the brand weaves a wild fern plant called “agsam” while keeping a 45-year old weaving tradition alive.

Carmina Sanchez-Jacob

Carmina Sanchez-Jacob finished her education in Fine Arts and for two decades of employment under select companies, she developed a body of work and a network in the lifestyle segments of entertainment, fashion, art, jewelry, design, publication, telecommunications, residential and commercial development, health and beauty, retail, and luxury food and beverage. In the early 2000’s, she established her own business in marketing communications and took on a variety of projects as either project manager, marketing consultant or publicist. By 2015 there were over a hundred projects to her credit. In that same year, together with her business partners, she established Fashion Exchange International through the company Fashion Design Trade and Exhibit, Inc. To date, it is the only company in the Philippines that owns licenses to renowned Filipino designers and brands. Currently, as a Marketing Communications Consultant, she has invested her time and energy into other lifestyle-related products and brands with key partners in niche segments of liquor and cosmetics. Her passion has always been that of promoting and championing Philippine creativity and ingenuity.

Robby Carmona

Robby Carmona is a fashion show director, producer, and founder of Saga PH, a 360 Experiential Company in the Philippines. He is a purveyor of creativity with a unique vision, and has staged remarkable events and shows that continue to inspire the next generation of event creatives and set standards within the industry.

Emi Englis

Emi Englis is a fashion designer, a creative entrepreneur, a multidisciplinary design educator and researcher. He is also a PAASCU accreditor for Fine Arts, Interior Design, and Architecture. He previously chaired the Fashion and Industrial Design Programs at Philippine Women’s College of Davao. Currently, he heads the PWC Center for Innovation and Social Ventures (CISV), a creative services development unit for creative enterprise and social impact. He continues to operate his made-to-order wedding and debutante apparel in Davao, Emi-Alexander Englis Luxe Couture. As a founding member and current Secretary of the Davao Fashion and Design Council Foundation, Inc. (DFDCFI), he chairs the product research, design, and development committee. His design career started in 2005, presenting as an international finalist representing the Philippines at Concours Internationale des Jeunes Createurs de Mode, or the International Competition of Young Fashion Designers in Paris, France. A year later, MEGA Young Designer Competition named him one of the country’s 8 Ambassadors of the Shape of the New Future. In 2018, he became a fellow in the British Council Creative Innovators Program and a member of the Union for Concerned Researchers in Fashion (UCRF) for Asia and the Pacific region.

Jonas Gaffud

Jonas Gaffud is the co-founder of Aces and Queens honing the young Filipinas into beauty pageant candidates and eventual winners which earned him the title as the Filipino Queen Maker. He also manages talents under his modeling agency Mercator Artist and Modeling Management. A valued mentor to many local beauty queens, he is currently the Creative Director of Miss Universe Philippines while also serving as the Creative Consultant to Miss Universe Singapore.

Pam Quiñones

A known disruptor in the industry, Pam Quinones is an extraordinary style icon. She works as the Executive Creative Director for Qurator, Inc., where she also functions as a celebrity stylist, mentor and main creative consultant. In 2018, she co-founded a curated fashion rental space called Vestido Manila. She brought the expertise she gained from the Instituto Marangoni as the Editor in Chief of L’Officiel Manila, the first international fashion publication in Manila. And now, she will continue as the Fashion Director of the country’s franchise of the Condé Nast publication, Vogue.

Dodjie Batu

With over 25 years in the fashion industry, Dodjie Batu started his successful fashion house Patahian a little over 25 years ago. Fierce in the face of competition, Dodjie has always challenged himself to be creative and innovative as the Philippine Representative for international design events in Paris, Malaysia and Canada. Leading by example, he currently serves as the President of Davao Fashion Design Council that actively promotes and champions the aesthetic of Davao Fashion both in the Philippines and globally.

Melva Valdez

Practicing for over three decade, Melva Valdez is a partner in the corporate immigration firm JGLaw (Bello Valdez Caluya & Fernandez), based in Makati City, Philippines.​ Melva is a member to many law organizations such as Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Makati Chapter, Philippine Bar Association (PBA), Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), International Bar Association (IBA), Visalaw International and many more.

Aztec Barba

Aztec Barba is a Davao-based fashion designer, making waves all over the country. Aztec was established in the fashion radar as Preview Magazine’s “Designer to Watch” back in 2005, and won awards from local design competitions such as the MEGA Young Designers Competition (2004) and Philippine Fashion Design Competition (2007). Aside from being a Featured Designer in Panasonic Manila Fashion Festival, Aztec also serves the local community of designers as a member of the Davao Fashion Design Council.