May 19, 2020, Manila – The Philippine events industry breaks the barrier of strict quarantine and lockdown laws with a major transformation of the event landscape launching the first ever online fashion show. Featuring the creations of one of the country’s most influential designers, Rajo Laurel in collaboration with Saga Events Inc. the Philippines ultimate provider of experiential events, “Rajo Laurel Runway Online” was aired live through the Saga Events Facebook page.
photo c/o Mega Online
Currently garnering over 30,000 viewers composed of the fashion elites and aficionados, the event showcased the excitement and the ambience minus the exclusivity further breaking down the barriers of class, status and social standing through the internet.
Hosted by Issa Litton, the online runway show featured exclusive interviews of the two main collaborators – premiere event director and Saga Events Inc. CEO, Robby Carmona and featured designer, Rajo Laurel. Aside from the Saga Events team who executed the show and the House of Laurel, the rest of the people who collaborated were among the brightest people from the Philippine events industry - Jing Monis and Gela Laurel-Stehmeier for hair and make-up, Saga Events Managing Partners Julie Ann Aguila and her team for video production with Elmer Lapeña and his team for the digital feed, Brian Cua for original soundtrack, Nix Alanon for photography, Mercator for all the models and super model and Asia’s Next Top Model host, Joey Mead-King for presenting the collection.
The Australian Filipina was given an exclusive interview by Rajo Laurel into the makings of his collection and the online runway show.
AF: What's your inspiration for the collection?
RAJO: The main inspiration was a desire to slow down. I recently finished building my home in the “bukid” of Batangas and this has given me the opportunity to take on new endeavours such as gardening and hiking. Being so close to nature this has given me a fresh perspective on how I have defined true luxuries. These are clean fresh air, the symphony of songbirds and sunshine. This inspired the HACIENDA collection.
AF: What was the journey like before the final runway show?
RAJO: It was really like navigating into a brand-new frontier. There was a lot of learning to be done. Teaching us all to be kinder and more patient with each other. Also finding a way to communicate in this pandemic world, provided new avenues to express ourselves and share our experiences.
AF: what was your reaction to the turn-out of viewers and supporters?
RAJO: I was really blown away and overwhelmed! I felt really supported and loved. It was so amazing to see so many of our friends online rallying us to push boundaries and together find out how this experiment will turn out.
AF: Is there a particular reason why you chose the Philippine Red Cross Makati* as your charity?
RAJO: I am very close to its founder Tessa Valdes and I believe in her advocacy and philanthropy. She has helped so many of our countrymen in need.
AF: What are your views on the statement that “a lot will change after the pandemic - even fashion”?
RAJO: We cannot go back into our old ways. We must continue to evolve and adapt otherwise we will all have failed this great realisation. In my mind the tides of change have already began and from here we can only hope to become better not only as an industry but as human beings.
With the success of “Rajo Laurel Runway Online,” the live events industry now faces new possibilities to envigorate its landscape. According to Robby Carmona, “We need to move forward and inspire the events industry to start strong. There are a lot of possibilities.
May 19 now marks the date for the Philippine events industry’s triumph over the challenges alongside Rajo Laurel’s birthday.
Congratulations to Saga Events Inc. and belated happy birthday to Rajo Laurel. More power to everyone in the Philippine events industry.
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*Part of sales coming from the purchase of the Hacienda collection will go to charity. To view the collection please proceed to the Saga Events FB page to watch Part 1 and Part 2.