Fashion Design student wins Habi Kadayawan 2019

Second-year BFA Fashion Design student Stephen Azarcon took home the Grand Prize for the Habi Kadayawan – Fashion Accessories Student Category during the final presentation and awarding ceremony held last August 9, 2019 at the Abreeza-Ayala Mall Activity Center.

Spearheaded by the Davao Fashion Design Council and now curated by the Artisanal Heritage Studies and Creative Enterprise Center (AHSCEC),  Habi Kadayawan is a Fashion Accessories and Apparel Design competition that has been bringing Davao designers together for 3 years now as part of the Kadayawan festivities. This year marked a milestone as the competition went Mindanao-wide for the first time, in celebration of Davao’s collective identity with ancestral roots from across the island’s geographical divide. Submission had been opened to participants from Region 9,10,11,12, CARAGA Region, and the ARMM.

Participating designers were challenged to create functional, marketable, and original fashion accessories and formal luxe wear featuring iconic patterns, materials, and/or techniques from the artisanal culture of the 11 Kadayawan Tribes of Davao tweaked in contemporary style. The competition was specifically broken down to two events, the Formal Luxe Apparel and Fashion Accessories, the latter with three categories: professional, student, and hobbyist/artisan. 

ALSO CHECK OUT: Habi Kadayawan 2018 Winners from PWC

This year’s roster of judges for the Fashion Accessories included accessories designer Adante Leyesa, lifestyle writer and art enthusiast Mons Romulo, and jewelry designer Ann Ong. For Luxe Apparel, entries were subjected to the scrutiny of internationally-acclaimed fashion designer Ito Curata, former president of the Fashion Design Council of the Philippines JC Buendia, and the executive director of Manila FAME’s organizing body, Pauline Suaco-Juan.

Azarcon’s winning piece Sagang is a round bag that took inspiration from the Bagobo Tagabawa craftsmanship, tweaked in a manner reflective of his personal vision to protect, preserve, and enrich the cultural heritage of the tribe. Along with the cash prize, Azarcon is entitled to an exposure opportunity at Manila FAME, the country’s premiere lifestyle and design event.

Aside from Azarcon, another product of the BFA Fashion Design program is multi-awarded alumni Junnie Artajo who landed 2nd Runner-Up in the Formal Luxe Apparel competition. His collection Des Vouz captured the Obo Manobo tribe’s artistry commonly expressed in their traditional garments.

Azarcon and Artajo’s achievements are a win for the PWC Fashion Design program, which has been fervent in its efforts to hone not only technically competent designers, but also artists with a vision to preserve and enrich Mindanaoan heritage in the highly competitive creative industry. [Click here to learn about the Fine Arts program.]

RCM