Amidst the thriving clubbing culture of Poblacion in Makati City is a charming boutique hotel called Coro Hotel. Derived from the Spanish word “Coro” which means choir, it is apparent that Coro Hotel was born out of love for music, arts, and culture.
Part of its efforts to position the hotel property as a hub for Filipino arts, fashion, and culture, Coro Hotel unveiled the Style Visionary Runways Manila fashion show, co-produced with independent publishing brand Stylish Magazine. The runway presentation was a soft launch execution to introduce Coro’s Artisan Weekend, a lifestyle bazaar happening on May 16, 17 and 18 in partnership with Stylish Magazine, which will house various Filipino arts, fashion and cultural brands from across the country.
Style Visionary Runways Manila Fashion Show
On May 28, Coro Hotel’s Fusion Forum served as the backdrop of Style Visionary Runways Manila fashion show– featuring Filipino fashion houses Fred Telarma, Heleyna Bridal by Janina Saspa, and Anna Cheung Couture by Joanna Fungo. The runway show was meant to put the spotlight on the “Filipino Identity in Fashion on the Global Stage”.
Opening the runway capsule presentation was Fred Telarma. Known for his avant garde creations, his Style Visionary Runways Manila collection showcased Asian-inspired silhouettes ,made of Filipino indigenous fabrics. The creations were a breath of fresh air, as they were more wearable than Telarma’s usual avant garde aesthetics. A parade of vibrant bright colors with a hint of Filipino indigenous prints, the collection showed the wider possibility of modern Filipino identity in the global fashion scene.
Heleyna Bridal by Janina Saspa brought in the heart-thumping romance on the runway with her ethereal, feminine bridal creations. Featuring the Filipiniana butterfly sleeves masterfully incorporated in modern, sensual bridal silhouettes, the pieces exuded the traditionality and chicness of the modern Pinay bride. The collection was called “Pamamanhikan”- an ode to traditional Filipinos asking the parents for hand in marriage, with flowers and written promises of life full of romance– as seen in the hand-painted cocoon of orchids on the creations. The gowns and dresses highlighted different bridal laces, and embroidery details – some with embroidery of the words of the marriage vows incorporated in the pieces– an art Janina Saspa has been known for in the local bridal fashion scene.
Joanna Fungo, creative director of Anna Cheung Couture, was thrilled to finally present her Paris Fashion Week SS2025 collection in Manila for the first time ever with her “Pilipinas Kong Mahal” collection at the Style Visionary Runways Manila Fashion Show. Joanna truly highlighted the beauty of Filipino indigenous fabrics, using Landap weave of Maranao,Inaul weave from Mindanao, and T’nalak weave from South Cotabato in her creations. Her finale Terno ball gowns showed the usual grandiosity of the traditional Philippine couture, a beauty globally known in the fashion scene.
With Style Visionary Runways Manila Fashion Show, fashion insiders have had a preview of what they can expect from Coro Hotel’s and Stylish Magazine’s Artisan Weekend happening on May 16, 17 and 18. Championing the Filipino fashion, arts and culture has been the main vision of the collaboration of Coro Hotel and Stylish Magazine, uplifting the Filipino artisans and creatives by providing platforms where they can sell and showcase their locally made products.