Fashion meets Art again this Holiday season as fashionalistic brand Freeway combines the best of both worlds with the latest installment of the most-loved National Artist Collectors’ Series. This Holiday 2011 collection features the works of Vicente Manansala, National Artist for Visual Arts. This is the 6th installment of the series which was creatively originated in 2009.
FREEWAY has blazed a trail by reintroducing the Philippine Arts and Culture to the younger generation with its Freeway loves Art: National Artist Collectors’ Series, making Fashionalism more hip and relevant. This creative infusion of fashion and art gave birth to these well-loved series that featured National Artists Nick Joaquin (Literature), Ang KiuKok (Visual Arts), Jose Garcia Villa (Literature), Ramon Valera (Fashion Design) and the first living NA in the series, F. Sionil Jose (Literature).
The collection was launched in a fashion show and special tribute to the man of the hour. A special celebration of the life and great works of the legendary Visual Artist was held at The Row, Glorietta 5 last October 18. The event gathered both fashion and art enthusiasts, and the family and friends of Manansala.
The event was hosted by two of the well loved vibrant celebrities and trendsetters Tim Yap and Divine Lee. Both wearing Manansala outfits, they added fun and candor in the evening. The very special guests Maritess Mendoza-Pineda, President of Friends of Manansala Foundation, Cedie Lopez-Vargas of The Lopez Museum and Ronna Manansala, granddaughter of Vicente Manansala shared their interesting stories and life experiences with man of the hour, Vicente Manansala.
The 22 piece beautiful collection was showcased in a Fashion Show. The audience had first dibs view of this much talked about collection as the original art pieces were flashed on the LED screen onstage. It was real euphoria to see how Manansala masterpieces we so used to see in frames and canvasses were translated in various wearable ways suited to today’s modern times. The vibrant colors of the Manansala paintings were showcased in the sublimation knits, as well as in the woven pieces through prints and embroideries. Fab shoes worn by models were sponsored by Muñiz Shoes which is designed by Carmina Villarroel (http://munizshoes.com/) and now available online or at select Ensembles outlets. Make up of the runway models by Margo Sarmiento, hair by Nina Escano, Charlene Manibo and Anna Liza Sulthan.
