The Schools of Fashion

Ever dreamed of becoming a stylist or designer? It’s never too late to tap into your inner couture goddess. Since getting into American or European fashion schools could break your bank (a typical semester at a New York fashion school costs $16,000 excluding housing), you can always tap the sources close to home. Check out the Philippine fashion schools that offer affordable quality courses for the next celebrity stylist, magazine editor, or retail designer.

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Fashion Institute of the Philippines

Established in July 2003, FIP has produced big names in the fashion industry. Some graduates have even put up their own brands or boutiques both here and abroad. Their variety of courses are affordable, ranging from P4,500 to P9,000 per course. Classes are taught by big names in the local fashion industry. The schedule is also flexible—you can still fit in your regular day job while pursing a course in fashion.

Courses offered: Basic Courses for Beginners: 1. Basic Fashion Design 2. Basic Pattern Making Specialized Courses for Beginners 1. Pattern Making for Children’s Wear 2. Pattern Making for Menswear 3. Fashion Accessories 4. Fashion Merchandising 5. Embellishments/ Bag Making 6. Basic Sewing for Ladies Wear 7. Tailoring for Men’s Wear Advanced Courses 1. Advanced Fashion Design 2. Advanced Pattern Making 3. Haute Couture Techniques 4. Advanced Sewing Notable Staff: 1. Sharon Pamaong – international fashion designer with backgrounds in local and international haute couture. Named as Best Original Filipino Designer in last year’s Philippine Fashion Week 2. John Herrera – an alumnus of FIP, he is a member of the Young Designers’ Guild of the Philippines and represented our country in the International Design Competition in Tokyo, Japan in 2006. Contact Details: Unit 2407, One San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center corner Shaw Blvd. Pasig City Tel./Fax (+632)635-5383 Cell. (+63)917-830-2108 www.fashioninstitutephil.com.

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LaSalle College International Philippines

With 23 branches in 11 countries, LaSalle College International is one of the most recognized fashion institutes in the world. Its Manila branch started operating in 2000, and has since then produced a significant number of fashion entrepreneurs and designers. The school offers night classes to accommodate students with day jobs. Their diplomas are recognized internationally, which gives the graduate a step in pursuing a career abroad.

Courses Offered: Two-Year Diploma Programs 1. Fashion Design 2. Fashion Marketing One-Year Certificate Program 1. Buyer in the Fashion Industry 2. Stylist in Fashion Design 3. Pattern Maker in Fashion Design Six-Month Mini Certificate 1. Basic Fashion Design 2. Basic Garment Production 3. Visual Merchandizing Weekend Short Courses 1. Basic Fashion Illustration 2. Ladies' Patternmaking 3. Men's Patternmaking 4. Children's Patternmaking 5. Draping 6. Sewing 7. Artistic Make-Up 8. Fashion Jewelry & Accessories 9. PAD System 10. Fashion Photography 11. Fashion Styling 12. Interior Decoration Notable Staff: 1. Gerry Katigbak – with an impeccable taste in avant-garde, he is one of the well-known fashion designers in the country 2. Benhur Arcayan –this professional photographer’s credentials include spreads and covers for various dailies and glossies in the country Contact Details: Bloomingdale Building, 205 Salcedo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City1229 Philippines Receptions/Admissions: (32) 840-1543 Marketing Department: (32) 840-1476 Accounting Department: (32) 840-1498 Fax: (32) 840-1497 www.lasallecollege.com.ph

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School of Fashion and The Arts

Founded by bag designer and fashion model Amina Aranaz-Alunan,
SOFA boasts of its world-class facilities and top industry
names as the class mentors.

Courses Offered: Fashion Workshops 1. Basics of Bag Design 2. Basics of Shoe Design 3. Draping Techniques 4. Professional Make-up 5. Non-Professional Make-up 6. Fashion Merchandising 7. Basic Pattern Making 8. Fashion Illustration Two-Year Program 1. Fashion Design and Marketing Diploma One-Year Program 1. Fashion Design Diploma 2. Fashion Marketing Diploma Three-Month Certificate Programs 1. Fashion Design 2. Clothing Technology 3. Fashion Merchandising Notable Staff: 1. Pam Quiniones – after studying abroad and traveling to Europe for the ultimate fashion immersion, she’s now the fashion editor of Marie Claire Philippines and a fashion styling teacher at SOFA 2. Brian Tenorio – the country’s shoe connoisseur lends his skills in shoe aesthetics and brand imaging Contact Details: 55 Paseo de Roxas Ave. Makati City, Philippines 491-5536 www.sofamanila.com

 

Blog It!
This month, we browsed through dozens of fashion bloggers claiming to be “It” and picked four sites worth bookmarking.

stylecocktail.blogspot.com
A fashion journalist, a former fashion editor, and a freelance photographer from Toronto, Canada form the perfect trio to bring high fashion straight to your desktop. Their mantra: “To help fashionistas navigate the crazy and fabulous world of fashion!”

They get front row and backstage passes to the hottest runway shows in the U.S. and spread the love by posting the latest in couture, beauty, and retail. Their blogs are detailed yet straightforward, unlike nuisance bloggers who fill their pages with purple prose and grammatical nightmares.

If you don’t have too much time to surf the net, but are still looking for weekly updates in high fashion, this is the blog for you. All you need is couple of minutes to click and browse, and you’ll get the right fix of style cocktail, without the snobbish air.

nagalimanila.blogspot.com
While he claims to be “ just another urban slave worker living one day after another,” NM’s life as a newspaper columnist, magazine creative director and fashion stylist is not ordinary.

He documents his work by posting behind-the-scenes photos of his latest shoots and media events in and out of Manila. He also talks about pop culture topics and whatnots. He gives tasteful comments on the latest in the media and entertainment industry, both here and abroad.

See how the publishing industry works in the Philippines. Peek into the life of Nagali Manila and see why the local magazine industry is not as dreadful as Andrea’s first job in A Devil Wears Prada.

celebritystyle.about.com
One of the newest members of about.com, New Yorker Felissa Benjamin shares the latest in Hollywood fashion and beauty. A fashion writer from Life and Style, she digs into the lives and wardrobes of Hollywood’s hottest celebrities.

Her topics range from red carpet trends to hairstyles and makeup. She also gives readers tips on how to pull of different looks that fit a variety of budgets. While the clothes and products are priced in dollars and are available mostly in the U.S., it’s still fun to browse through the wide range of celebrity style topics.

fashion.3yen.com
With posts such as “Japanese Fashion = Mental Retardation?” and “How to Fold Your Clothes Like a True-Blue Japanese,” you’ll get hooked on The Expedited Writer’s insight on Japanese fashion. From high-end Tokyo couture to Harajuku street finds, 3Yen is an interesting realm for fans of Japan’s colorful and ever-changing styles.
This Japanese blogger writes in an impressively good tone without getting lost in translation. She is aware of the stereotypes that the Japanese are labeled with, and simply brushes them off with: “You may not like the clashes of color in Japanese street fashion or the elaborate costumes. That’s fine… Just walk away.”