Cebuano designer Mike Yapching poised to conquer intl fashion scene

The local fashion scene is growing fast on the global scale, especially when designers like Michael Cinco and Kermit Tesoro are dressing some of the world’s most famous fashionistas.

 

Now another young designer, Mike Yapching, is geared up to join their ranks after being the first Filipino finalist in last year’s Audi Star Creation, the Singapore-based fashion design competition that seeks to showcase fresh Asian design talent.

 

The 23-year-old Cebuano designer shared that he realized he wanted to be a designer as far back as he can remember, and it began in the sewing shop that his grandmother owned.

 

“My grandmother had a sewing shop …she was making other people happy because of her clothes. I thought to myself that I would like to give the same sentiment to other people, to make them happy with what I could do with the clothes,” he told the press at the Friday launch of the 2012 Asia Fashion Exchange, which is the umbrella event for Audi Star Creation.

 

Yapching added that his grandmother’s work did not only inspire him, but gave him a unique aesthetic and honed his eye for design.

 

“Living in Cebu and growing up watching my mum and grandmother at work as seamstresses has given me an insight into traditional methods of dressmaking and hand-crafted detailing. I believe that does give me an edge. I am able to bring together the best of techniques from the past and today in creating unique pieces,” he said.

 

Growing up in Cebu also allowed him to grow in a tight-knit design community. True to the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan—which incidentally is the theme of his collection—they became each other’s support system.

 

Yapching shared:  “Cebu is a really small island and designers know each other. We have great relationships. It’s a win-win situation for everybody because one designer teaches you something you don’t know, and in return you can teach them something they don’t know.”

 

It turned out that being in that close-knit design community was eventually what led him to join Audi Star Creation, because it was his mentor and fellow designer Edwin Ao who told him about it and encouraged him to join—one week before submissions were due for screening.

 

After a whirlwind of a week designing and creating, Yapching somehow got his collection to the judges, and soon, they were calling him to let him know that he was among the top 12 finalists—and the first and only Filipino in the bunch.

 

He met the news with more than a little trepidation—aside from a passport problem, it was his first time outside of the country, and representing the Philippines at that.

 

“I was proud to represent the country, but also intimidated at the same time because you might not know what other people might say…I was afraid to be out of the country for the very first time and to meet people with a different culture as mine,” he shared.

 

Those fears disappeared soon enough. Over his eight day stay in Singapore, Mike not only got to befriend fellow designers and meet the who’s-who of the global fashion industry, but he was also able to attend seminars that taught him about other aspects of fashion, such as branding and merchandising.

 

He said: “It was a really great experience to meet important people who really know how to play the game. The opportunity is not just about the competition but also about learning new things.”

 

But of course, the best part was still the homecoming: “One of the happiest moments was when I returned home from Singapore and my mother told me she was proud of me.”

 

Now, almost a year after his first taste of international recognition, Yapching is still completing his fashion design degree at the University of San Carlos in Cebu. In true Filipino fashion, he places a high premium on education.

 

“I want to finish my studies first. I want to give something back to my aunt, who’s sponsoring my schooling, so that I can give her a diploma, something to give back to her for all of her efforts,” he said.

 

He still continues to design for a number of clients, and after he graduates in March of next year, he plans to put up a shop, and from there, take over the world—or Asia at least.

 

As for Filipino fashion—the young designer, who also shared that he looks up to Cary Santiago and Ivarluski Aseron, said that he believes the local industry can definitely go global. The only thing is, it needs support.

 

“I think Filipino fashion already has what it takes to compete, but then we just lack support from the government. We lack publicity to get designers out there. We need to have more technology in making fabrics because that’s what we really lack,” he explained.

 

He added: “ We have weavers that weave really great patterns. I think that given enough support, we could get a lot of good feedback about our fabrics. It’s also nice to have something to call our own.” — TJD, GMA News