Dazzling, spellbinding, awe-inspiring.

Michael Cinco once again proved he's at the forefront of cutting-edge fashion when he headlined the country's first-ever Metaverse Fashion Gala last Monday, 18 September, at the Grand at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

The Dubai-based designer came home to present a 60-piece collection in connection with the promotion of blockchain technology that began as a tool to enable cryptocurrency and now used in other industries.

"Fashion has always been about redefining barriers, and right now, there's no bigger barrier than taking what's physical into the digital," Cinco said in a statement ahead of the Philippine Blockchain Week, which ran from 19 to 21 September. PBW convenor Chezka Gonzales pointed out that the Blockchain can beautifully "complement creative professionals at the top of their field."

Thus, there was the dazzling stage and lighting design that lets the audience imagine a virtual reality into the future. The effect becomes spellbinding when models started walking down the runway in Cinco's creations that cleverly combine soft, flowy fabric with shiny, metallic materials and accentuated with quirky accessories.

Then came the couture wear that showcased Cinco's signature intricate and handmade beadwork with Swarovski crystals, and the result is nothing short of awe-inspiring. This is especially represented by the finale ballgown, which turned to be the pièce de resistance of the whole show.

"The inspiration is history of Egypt," Cinco's business partner Dr. Sayed Ali said of the last piece in the collection. He spoke briefly to DAILY TRIBUNE and another publication after the show. "Yes, I'm Egyptian. Michael created [that ballgown] from the history of Egypt."

Ali, who's a co-founder and the managing director of the Michael Cinco fashion house, shared that around two-and-a-half million pieces of Swarovski crystals, some of which looked gold, were used to embellish the already masterfully constructed gown. The train alone is four-and-a-half meters long!

No wonder it's the favorite of Cinco in his latest collection, according to Ali. It's not for sale, though, in case there are interested buyers.

Ali added that Cinco worked on the entire collection for around three to four months, overseeing production at their factory in Dubai, which is part of the United Arab Emirates in the Arabian Gulf. They have about 135 workers meticulously turning into reality Cinco's visionary works.

He also pointed out that "the details and the quality" of Cinco's works make the Samar-born designer one of the leading lights in fashion today. A testament to that is his long list of celebrity clientele, which include Hollywood stars and international pageant queens.

Some of Cinco's designs, from sketch to final product, were on display at the lobby of the Marriott Grand Ballroom. These include Pia Wurtzbach's blue ballgown, Nicki Minaj's shimmering cocktail dress and Jennifer Lopez's purple-and-white number.

"After the pandemic, we have many clients from the Philippines," Ali said. "That's why we were very excited when we got a call from the Philippine Blockchain Week company to do a fashion show. I'm very excited and we do our best." He also thanked their friends and families for the support. Their guest list was led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, who also attended the pre-event dinner.

What's next for Michael Cinco? His very own shop in the Philippines, which, Ali said, would be set up in the Greenbelt area before the year ends.