Perky, cool, playful Filipiniana in New York
From left: Dr. Christine May Daguno-Canoy, president and CEO, Neocolors Productions International; Venus Raj; designer Cherry Samuya Veric; Xian Lim; Megan Young; and Gina Reyes-Heil, COO of Neocolors Productions International. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF RJ ENSELADA
This boy from Aklan has reached the top of New York City, quite literally. So blessed and thankful for God's graces. And may the Lord pave my roads ahead with more blessings as I make another turn around the sun," declares the acclaimed creative Cherry Samuya Veric on his post for his recent birthday.
He was at the Summit One Vanderbilt, the 93-story skyscraper at the corner of 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, basking in the afterglow of his successful show at Astoria World Manor in Queens on 3 June.
Veric, 41, from Ibajay, Aklan, came to prominence via Project Runway Philippines. His splendid designs have been showcased at the Philippine Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week, Western Canada Fashion Week, and at Howard University. He was also honored as one of the top five Asian haute couture designers of 2016 in Chongqing, China.
Fine, fun Filipiniana
It's Veric's fourth show at the fashion capital but his first as a solo artist. He presented "Maria Clara Takes New York By Storm," which highlighted "the cool, perky and playful side of Filipiniana aesthetics" flaunted by Miss Universe fourth runner-up Venus Raj, actor Xian Lim and Miss World 2013 Megan Young. Joining our two beloved queens was the inspiring Julia Kostova, a Ukrainian war refugee in one of her first international runways.
Megan Young
"Filipiniana need not be too formal or old. I tried to show in this collection that Filipiniana can be sporty, edgy, and very urban. The pieces are all new, as fresh as they can be," Veric clarified of his 30-piece mix of women's and men's clothing with his signature haute-couture flourishes.
"The response after the show was phenomenal. It was sold out and the Pinoy community in New York came in droves and cheered for us. Dr. Christine Daguno-Canoy of Neocolors Productions and Advertising Inc.and her business partner, Gina Reyes-Heil of Neocolors Productions and Advertising International, Inc., really put up an exciting show. I was in seventh heaven the entire time. And buyers snatched the pieces they wanted.," Veric said.