Rampa Manila to reintroduce modern Filipiniana fashion to Gen Zs

AS part of its celebrations for its founding anniversary, the City of Manila will showcase the best of Filipino artistry with its first ever fashion event Rampa Manila.

It will be held on Tuesday, June 20, at the Manila City Hall. 

The event aims to “bring back the glory of fashion” and celebrate the capital city’s rich heritage through a display of show-stopping style and creativity.

Along with the new breed of emerging fashion designers, some of the country’s most renowned names in the industry, such as Michael Leyva, Jo Rubio, Puey Quiñones, Marlon Tuason and Albert Andrada, will showcase their collections that will merge the latest fashion trends with the classic Filipiniana to give it a modern touch. 

“The basic concept of Rampa Manila is to feature all our very talented and amazing FIlipino fashion designers here in the capital of the country,” Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna told republicasia during the press launch for Rampa Manila last Friday, June 16.

Lacuna said the local government aims to re-establish Manila as the base for cultural appreciation. Events like Rampa Manila would also help amplify the message to the greater public, especially the younger generation, that Manila is the center of culture and the arts, she said. 

“Dapat laging ang Manila ang center of everything, center of arts, culture, education, everything. And we’re trying to amp up again the fashion industry, so this would be a very big help to our local fashion designers and, of course, our upcoming young designers,” she said. 

She noted that the younger generation has been learning to appreciate the classic Filipiniana outfits. 

“Siguro may mga tweaks lang talaga siya, but we would always go back to the classic,” she said. 

Trendy terno interpretations 

Since the event will feature a fusion of classic designs and modern trends, Rampa Manila will showcase various interpretations of the terno as well as a modernized Barong Tagalog. 

The designs will be accessible to younger audiences, said Rubio.

“Hindi siya masyadong high fashion para medyo madaling ma-understand ng manood. Saka the idea is to re-imagine the FIlipiniana for the younger generation,” Rubio told republicasia. 

“It’s kind of wearable but medyo fashionable, so makaka-relate talaga even the Gen Z,” he added. 

Celebrity stylist and Rampa Manila creative director Bang Pineda said this wearable Filipiniana may not necessarily be for everyday wear. It will be fit for certain occasions that demand a certain sophistication, Pineda said. 

“If you go to a dinner or a nice occasion, usually kasi ‘pag may wedding lagi naka long gown or whatever, why not use the traditional Filipiniana natin and make it a little modern?” he said. 

Rampa Manila will also feature the launch of three new up and coming fashion designers. 

The participating designers have high hopes that Rampa Manila will pave the way for a yearly fashion celebration in the city. 

Rampa Manila is also part of the local government’s effort to launch the city as a style capital, in the hopes of following international fashion celebrations such as the Paris and New York Fashion Week.