Escario Shows his Style

The upscale retail space of Greenbelt 3 recently hosted a display of various fashions crafted by acclaimed designer Jun Escario. The youthful Jun has already helped shape the fashion landscape
in Cebu and has begun to influence the direction of Philippine fashion itself. He is one of the few Cebuano designers who have risen from the region to gain national recognition for his creative identity.

Escario’s designs are characterized by a signature sensuality, verve, and sophistication. His best work uses soft, draping fabrics to enhance the wearer’s contours. Escario honed his skills as a full-time designer for En Sepia, the premiere Cebu Fashion house in the late 1980s, marking his first hands-on experience with haute couture. In 1991, he opened his own shop called Bacchus which the local young fashionista crowd of Cebu flocked to, establishing him as one of Cebu’s most sought-after designers.

Designer Jun Escario with one of his creations

In December 2001, he joined the Concours International des Jeunes Createurs de Mode in Paris, a brave move that paid off when he emerged as one of the five finalists representing the Philippines. He then won a special citation for Best Philippine Designer from the French judges for a stunning piece made of pleated paper, silk threads, shell beads and copper medallions.

To broaden the reach of his designs, Escario opened a small satellite workshop and showroom in Makati in 2003. Australian interior designer Simon Miles has fashioned the space into a chic salon for Manila’s most modish. Escario’s esteem continues to rise among Manila’s fashionistas, and he is well on his way to establishing a firm niche in the local scene. As for international women of fashion, Jun shares: “I think wherever you go, everyone understands fashion nowadays. And it’s not like you can still say, this is very American, or European, or Asian. It’s really global. I think my collection is very appealing to any market, be they women from Hong Kong or France. Maybe because as Filipinos, we haven’t really settled on a single national fabric, like Indonesians for example who have their batik. We Filipinos are more global because we use material from all around the world.”

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Speedo Starts Heats Wave

Last February 1, 2007 top global swimwear brand Speedo launched their new global integrated media campaign entitled ‘Make Waves’ at the residence of British Ambassador Peter Beckingham in Forbes Park. The evening’s cool breezes were dispelled by the sizzling show put on by an array of top models and attended by members of the diplomatic community, Speedo executives, and Manila’s fashionista crowd in full force. The show featured such lines as the Melbourne collection, whose signature print features a graphic illustration of the Australian coastline; the new 2007 Beach Volleyball collection; Mind.Body.Speedo, a collection featuring Speedo’s exclusive Sculpture fabric that flatters a woman’s natural shape; a new range of wetsuits; and colourful new beach fashion collection Rio.

Models wearing Speedo swimwear

Marking a new direction for the world’s leading swimwear company, the campaign is initially running in selected countries around the world. The advertisements add a new dimension to Speedo’s traditional image and support the brand’s extension of its core performance heritage. The current campaign is part of a three-year strategy to engage consumers and cement the brand’s positioning in the lead up to Beijing 2008 Olympics.

As stated by Manish Mahtani, Speedo’s Vice President for Operations, the ‘make waves’ campaign builds on the brand’s momentum as the world’s best swim brand. “Speedo is proud to communicate our commitment to consumers beyond our traditional strength in the competition pool.” he said. Speedo has also launched the first of an on-going series of bi-weekly podcasts under the ‘Speedo Make Waves’ banner, offering a unique insight into the world of swimming and featuring some of the world’s top athletes as well as the latest swim news from around the world.

Speedo was founded in 1914 by Scottish hosiery manufacturer Alexander MacRae in an effort to expand his knitting mill company into swimwear. In 1928 the name Speedo was first adopted after the firm developed its racerback design of swimwear making it one of the first manufacturers to specifically produce athletic designs. The name was made up by Captain Jim Parsons who won a company competition with the slogan “Speed on in your Speedos.”

In 1955 Speedo introduced nylon into its fabric for competitive swimwear. The 1956 Olympics in Melbourne saw the widespread debut of the new fabric and the introduction of the style of men’s briefs that has become associated with the brand. The company quickly expanded into the international arena from there until the present, boasting that 70 percent of swimming medals were won by athletes wearing its products in the Olympic Games of 1968, 1972, and 1976.

During the 1970s and 80s new fabrics such as lycra were incorporated into the company’s swimwear design. During the late 1990’s the company turned its attention to its aquablade and fastskin product lines of competitive swimwear. The designs employ new fabrics that the company claims will reduce resistance in the water by replicating biological skin characteristics of various marine animals such as sharks.

Though it still manufactures the traditional briefs, jammers and racerback designs that made the company famous, Speedo’s latest competitive swimwear designs incorporate suits that provide greater coverage to the arms, legs, and even full body for their top end lineup. The company also continues to manufacture recreational swimwear, goggles, earplugs, swim caps, towels, robes, sportswear and other logo clothing, watches, sandals, beach volleyball and triathlon products, lifeguard gear, and training supplies for competitive and recreational swimmers.

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