For its ninth yr, Calgary International Fashion and Arts Week (CIFAW) was held in Manila
In its fourth season, the Marriott Moments A-Fair had a spectacular recalibration with the introduction of the concept of a “Luxuriant Expo.” Denoting luxe plus bountiful, it delivered on the promise of a one-of-a-kind exposition. From weddings to events, to fashion and humanities, every little thing that’s wonderful about life converged at one massive venue — the MGBX Exhibition Hall of the Manila Marriott Hotel.
This yr ushered a tripartite partnership with renowned brands in hospitality, weddings and special events, with the Marriot Bonvoy, essentially the most reputable hospitality and lifestyle program on this planet; Themes & Motifs, the leading bridal fair organizer within the Philippines since 2001; and the dynamic Highlight Couronne Internationale (SCI) from Canada.
The milestone event, “Marriott Moments A-Fair Luxuriant Expo and the 9th Annual Calgary International Fashion and Arts Week (CIFAW),” gathered one of the best weddings and events suppliers. It is usually a showcase of the works of imported and exported world-class visual and literary artists on the “inclusive venue,” MGBX Exhibition Hall within the Marriott Grand Ballroom, the grandest hotel-based MICE facility within the country today, serving as their official home.
The A-Fair has gained traction as a showcase of one of the best in Filipino creativity. CIFAW, meanwhile, is a world celebration of fashion in addition to a platform for networking, education and talks about trends, inclusivity and the longer term of the style industry. Each platforms for fashion aim to encourage and showcase creativity, innovation, and collaboration amongst designers, stylists, models, photographers, and journalists.
The 9th Calgary International Fashion and Arts Week introduced a primary — the Philippine Fashion Weekend — held on the Manila Marriott Hotel on July 26 and July 27, 2025. With the theme, “Home,” the ninth CIFAW goals to encourage every Filipino to take pride of their roots and within the place we call home — the Philippines.
DESIGNERS’ SHOWCASE ON DAY 1
On July 26, the primary day of the Luxuriant Expo, fashion designers Maliyah Abenir and Odelon Simpao, and fashion brand SCI PH presented their latest collections.
MALIYAH ABENIR
A proud transgender Filipino-Canadian designer, Maliyah, 31, was born in Imus, Cavite, and raised in Canada. She began designing clothes when she was 16 years old in her former highschool. She graduated with a level in Fashion Business and Design at JCI Institute in Vancouver, and Fashion Techniques and Design at George Brown College in Toronto.
Her collection for CIFAW, a futuristic tackle the military uniforms of the past, is named “Redemption Denym 2025.”
“I used to be really inspired by the Armed Forces of the Philippines within the Nineteen Seventies. My theme this yr is ‘To Be Your Own Soldier.’ You’re the soldier in your personal life so that you gotta fight. I struggled so much with mental health and was reaching all-time low. I had to make use of every energy I got left to survive and fight my mental battles, and when you’re your personal soldier, you gotta do what it takes to get back up and win the battle,” Maliyah explains.
ODELON SIMPAO
As a part of his 40th birthday celebration, the Cagayan de Oro-raised Odelon recently launched his latest bridal collection. Following that milestone is his participation at CIFAW.
His CIFAW collection was an ode to his beloved mother:
“The title of my collection is ‘Susanne.’ My mother’s name is Susan and she or he’s my inspiration for this collection. Her softness and fragility are the emotion of the gathering. But at the identical time, I would like to point out how tough and hardworking she is and it should show the main points and manipulation of materials that I’ll use. I showed different silhouettes and shapes. I also showcased some latest techniques and fabric manipulations while maintaining that classic and timeless look.”
SCIPH
Highlight Couronne Internationale (SCI) was founded by Filipino-Canadians Limuel Vilela, President and CEO, executive producer/designer/director and former model; and COO/Chief Creative Director Alvin Masangkay Francia, an aviation expert and educator.
For the CIFAW show, SCIPH unleashed a set called “Unspoken: The Silhouette of Home.”
“It’s a quiet tribute to the elegance of simplicity and the comfort of returning to 1’s roots. The gathering explored the unspoken language of cloth, form, and familiarity — where every line echoed the softness of belonging, and every bit whispered the story of home,” Francia shared.
Vilela revealed more details: “This collection was rooted in quiet confidence — a mirrored image of those that lead not with noise, but with presence. The silhouettes were clean, structured, and refined: halter gowns with sculptural bows, off-shoulder drapes that framed the collarbone, and modern tailoring that honored tradition while stepping forward.”
DAY 1 ACCOLADES
FUMIYA SANKAI: ARTIST OF THE YEAR
On the Luxuriant Expo, Fumiya Sankai was awarded the “9th CIFAW Artist of the 12 months.” This coincided along with his exhibition on the Marriott in collaboration with Themes and Motifs and One Gallery called “Hum Art,” which uses his distinct variety of painting to encapsulate feelings of affection, joy, and childlike wonder.
His raw execution of aesthetics to visualise the innocent strokes of youth: brave, somewhat reckless, and never a care on this planet of what people would think. His style is deeply inspired by early memories of his father sketching hand-drawn posters of the products that they sell of their family-owned business.
Like the final ambiguity in his body of labor, his name also has a concordant myriad of meanings. It may be the act of humming to an exquisite tune, having fun with the fantastic thing about the world, just chilling out, or the humility of somebody who has reached heights of success.
MAYUMI CRUZ: AUTHOR AND ARTIST
Mayumi Cruz is a storyteller of words and visuals — sure by imagination, inspired by every little thing. Whether through storytelling or visual art, she creates pieces that encourage, provoke thought, and reflect the fantastic thing about creative freedom.
On the Luxuriant Expo, Cruz launched her newest book, Gio and the Tailor’s Chalk. It’s a gripping Young Adult fantasy that weaves time travel, folklore, and heart- wrenching sacrifice. After discovering his father’s death and the theft of a robust magical heirloom, teen tikbalang Gio del Mundo must journey to 1820 to stop a murderous witch coven and reclaim his destiny. But with the fate of his people — and his very existence — on the road, Gio must answer an unimaginable query: What would you quit to make the world right?
DESIGNERS’ SHOWCASE ON DAY 2
JOHN ABLAZA
On the young age of seven, John began creating dresses at home — for his sister’s dolls. Over the course of his 40-year profession, he has done countless shows and was accorded international recognition in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Arizona, Latest York, Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary. He also did shows and exhibits in Paris, Milan and Madrid.
John called his CIFAW collection “Elements de la Nature” (“Elements of Nature”), explaining:
“I’m all the time inspired by the things I see around me, the fantastic thing about nature, the chirping of birds, colourful butterflies, lush green trees, blue ocean and whispering waves. I showed easy silhouettes, fluid lines and defined patterns. I used various fabrics I sourced from Dubai, Zimbabwe, France and the Philippines. My collection was divided into 4 segments. Using a color palette of beige, white, brown, and black, I showcased products from my collaborations with the Mangyan of Mindoro, Philippines.”
KENNY LADAGA
Kenny, 38, is now in his 15th yr working in fashion. He makes a speciality of made-to-own wedding gowns and long gowns. He can also be known to supply bespoke suits and barong Tagalog for special occasions.
For CIFAW, Kenny’s collection is named “Les Fleurs: The Pastel Collection”:
“Inspired by a celebration of recent romance — a marriage collection that redefines bridal elegance through simplicity, softness, and refined details. My collection is all in a muted great thing about lavender, blush pink, and beige, and each bit is crafted with understated grace and adorned with delicate floral appliqué. The silhouettes move beyond traditional ball gowns, embracing sleek lines, ethereal layers, and effortless draping that talk to the contemporary bride.”
JAKI PEÑALOSA
Considered the grand dame of Ilonggo fashion, Jaki has won prestigious awards like Dungog sang Dakbanwa sang Iloilo (Culture and Arts) in 2017, the Galing Ilonggo Awards in 2013, and 10 Outstanding Women in Iloilo (TOWIL) award to call just a few, in recognition of her huge contribution to promoting Iloilo City’s hablon fabrics to each national and international audiences.
Jaki’s CIFAW collection was inspired by the individuals who make her a part of their special and memorable day:
“I created something that makes one wear their culture. I created a set that showcased each the female and powerful, resilient attributes of ladies through the silhouettes of my design. I selected neutral and earth colours to emphasise the presence of Philippine craft through the art of embroidery, callado, and indigenous hand-woven fabrics in my collection.”
For more details about Marriott Moments A-Fair Luxuriant Expo, please contact Manila Marriott Hotel at Newport World Resorts, 2 Resorts Drive, Newport World Resorts, NCR — 4th District, Barangay 183, Pasay City, Manila, Philippines; 28988-9999; MarriottHotelManila@marriott.com and www.manilamarriott.com; Themes & Motifs Bridal Fairs and Special Events Expo through https://themesmotifs.com, +63917-522-0707; and Calgary International Fashion & Arts Week via info@scimodels.ca and http://www.scimodels.ca/.
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