This year’s LOOK of Style Awards was a step-up from the ones we did in the past. Apart from its new theme: Pinoy Goes Global, an accessories category was added, which gave 10 aspiring accessories designers a chance to join this prestigious competition. The winner of the clothing category received a scholarship to Central Saint Martins in London, while the winner of accessories design was awarded a course at Sheffield Hallam University. The event was produced by Inquirer Lifestyle, LOOK Magazine and the British Council, headed by country director Nicholas Thomas, with Bench, SM Accessories and Systema Tooth & Gum Care as major sponsors.

I have to say, the 20 designers did not disappoint. Each one presented a unique vision that was deserving of the prize–it was  up to the judges to select the best one. (This year’s board of judges for apparel were Inquirer Lifestyle journalist Cheche Moral, LOOK editor in chief Carmencita Sioson, British Council’s Anna Tan, and fashion designers JC Buendia and Lulu Tan Gan. For accessories, the judges were Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Emi Jorge, Joyce Makitalo, Nicole Whisenhunt, Ricky Toledo and Chito Vijandre.) The winner for Best Fashion Design category was Rei Escario, while Neil Suarez San Pedro a.k.a. Neil Felipp, won Best Fashion Accessory category.

We really had some amazing contestants this year, and lucky for them, their talents didn’t go unnoticed. The British Council was no doubt impressed with what they saw that they decided to award four more scholarships to Sheffield Hallam University. This went to accessories finalists Angela Angeles, Ronald Ramiro, Earl Gariando and Adante Leyesa. Also, veteran knitwear designer Lulu Tan Gan added to the list of prizes by awarding Jaggy Glarino an all-expense-paid trip to England and a scholarship at Central Saint Martins (a Lulu Tan-Gan award was created that night). She even invited the young designer to join her team.

For me though, the best part of the evening was the silent auction that happened after the announcement of the winners.  Contestants, winners, and past winners generously gave their designs to raise funds for Yolanda victims. It gave guests a reason to support these up-and-coming designers, as well as raise money to help rebuild the affected Visayas region.

Designs of LOSA2013 winner Rei Escario.

I hosted the event that evening wearing Vania Romoff, one of the contestants from last year’s LOSA.

LOOK’s lovely EIC Cit-cit Sioson.

Designs by 10 contestants for the accessories category.

Winning designs of Neil Felipp. I love the monkey clutch!!! So ingenious.

 Beautiful necklaces by one of the four winners of the scholarship to Sheffield Hassan University: Adante Leyesa.

Stunning minauderie by Earl Gariando.

This yeas’s talented contestants of LOSA.

I couldn’t be more excited to announce the winners that night.

Winner of the Lulu Tan Gan award: Jaggy Glarino and his creations.

Awarding Neil Felipp, winner of Best Fashion Accessory of LOSA 2o13.

The winner of Best Fashion Design category and Bench’s special award: Rei Escario.

The lucky winners that night.

Past LOSA winners Pablo Cabahug, Roland Alzate and Geof Gonzales.

Some of the accessories up for silent auction that night.

Martha Gonzalez and Tricia Espino of Bridges PR, Cit-cit Sioson and Raymund Villanueva.

Designers Ivar Aseron and Joey Samson, with Mau de Leon of Mercator and photographer/model Jo Ann Bitagcol.

Ana Tan of the British Council, Cit-cit Sioson and British designer Una Burke.

Una Burke and a few of her designs.

PDI’s President and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez and Nicholas Thomas of the British Council.

LOOK fashion editor Kat Cruz-Villanueva, designer Jun Escario, Cit-cit Sioson, myself and Vania Romoff.

Ana Tan and I.

LOOK cover girl Kim Jones.

Founder of the LOSA, former EIC of LOOK Mel Cuevas and Joey Samson.

Annie Ringor of Bridges PR.

Amina Aranaz-Alunan.

LOSA 2013 winner Roland Alzate.

Vania Romoff.

Georgia Schulze-del Rosario and husband Armand.

L’Oreal’s Pam Picazo-Garcia.

Mitch Dulce.