Holiday mood in menswear

On its 13th year, the Mindanao Fashion Summit (MFS) went from strength to strength. Founded in the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro, the event gathered the stellar design talents of the island.

“Through the years, the MFS is able to invite fashion and accessories designers from all over Mindanao, and Mindanaoan creatives who are working in Manila and abroad,” says Gil Macaibay III, former president of the Oro Fashion Designers Guild who established the MFS. “We are still a work in progress. There is still so much to improve on in staging this annual event, and we are continuously learning and planning as we speak.”

Held at the Ayala Malls Centrio, the MFS 2024 was chaired by Joshua Guibone, who was part of the winning Philippine team at the Malaysia Fashion Week in 2019.

“The challenge post-pandemic has been the competition from online fast-fashion platforms. However, with the resurgence of events, men’s formal wear has made a comeback,” Guibone noted. “Casual and streetwear menswear still face challenges, but I believe that with designers offering fresh perspectives, as seen at this year’s MFS, the overall menswear market will continue to thrive”

In this special photo shoot, Macaibay and Guibone present their menswear designs for the holidays and beyond.

Gil Macaibay III’s ‘Spectrum’

“I call my collection ‘Spectrum.’ Gender has so many classifications as identity fluctuates. It can be genderless fashion, gender-fluid. ‘Spectrum’ will be an utter silence of fashion being expansive, undefinable, phenomenal, fluid and existing beyond any boundaries,” Macaibay said. “The inspiration is an Adam Katz photo for Rick Owens’ fall/winter 2021 collection. When you look at the photo, you can never tell if you’re looking at a man or a woman, making me realize that fashion does not indicate sexuality.”

“A variety of fabrics were used in this collection. From laces, brocades, tulle, velvet, wool to leather; all fused together to create streetwear and luxury wear pieces,” he added. “The client turnout after the pandemic is not that progressive but still we are progressing. With events popping slowly, I would say that 80 percent of made to orders were menswear for parties, pageants and weddings.”

Joshua Guibone’s ‘Veil of Light’

“‘Veil of Light,’ the title of my menswear collection, is inspired by Romulo Olazo’s Diaphanous series of artworks. It is an exploration of transparency, layering, and the ethereal beauty found in the interplay of color and light. It captures the essence of Olazo’s work, where layers of pigment are meticulously placed to create a soft, almost spectral effect that is both mesmerizing and contemplative,” Guibone said.

“The garments are designed to evoke a sense of movement and fluidity, as if the fabric itself is a canvas of shifting light and shadow. Each piece is constructed with multiple layers of sheer and semi-sheer materials, overlapping in a harmonious dance of color. The palette transitions from muted pastels to deeper hues, with subtle gradients suggesting a continuous flow of energy and emotion,” he further said. “‘Veil of Light’ invites the wearer to experience the art of dressing as an encounter with light itself—an immersion into a world where the boundaries of color and form are blurred, and where the invisible becomes visible through the gentle diffusion of layers. This collection celebrates the subtle and the sublime, with each piece telling a story of quiet sophistication and poetic resonance, echoing the timeless beauty of Romulo Olazo’s Diaphanous series.”

“The menswear scene in Cagayan de Oro is growing, but much of the business remains focused on formal wear, such as suits, barong Tagalog, and tuxedos. However, there’s a growing market for menswear beyond formal attire, as men in CDO —especially the younger generation — are increasingly experimental with their style,” he explained.