MEGA Fashion Awards 2024: Official Nominees for Most Influential Local Fashion Brand

MEGA Fashion Awards 2024: Official Nominees for Most Influential Local Fashion Brand

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The MEGA Fashion Awards 2024 is back to celebrate local creative excellence in the Philippines

After three years, the MEGA Fashion Awards (MFA) 2024 returns to kick off fashion month with a bang. This event in the social calendar often serves as an indicator of momentum and trends not just on the red carpet, but also among voters. The night’s awards will be named in categories that span the realm of fashion, and among them: the most influential figures and brands in the realm of fashion and culture. Here are the local fashion brands that are transforming the “Made in the Philippines” label into a symbol of innovation and creativity.

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BENCH

The local fashion giant is known for its wide selection of fashion and lifestyle essentials. In recent years, BENCH has been recognized as a retail powerhouse and the go-to for fun, functional casualwear, prioritizing comfort and reliability. From graphic tees to trousers and denim jeans, the proudly Filipino brand has expanded its range to include underwear, bags, fragrances, and accessories. 

Since its inception in 1987, BENCH’s runways and campaigns have been graced by local celebrities such as Kathryn Bernardo and recently Marian Rivera. The brand is also known for enlisting some of the world’s A-list celebrities as its ambassadors including Bruno Mars, Brooklyn Beckham, and Taylor Lautner, as well as Korean superstars Park Shin Hye, Lee Min Ho, Ji Chang Wook, TWICE, ENHYPEN, and RIIZE.

MEGA has been a consistent front-rower at BENCH Fashion Weeks, TernoCons, and other events—both with the mission of championing the Filipino fashion scene.

Halohalo

In an oversaturated world of social media stores selling clothing and bags on sites like Instagram, few success stories have emerged, and even fewer have been able to achieve the longevity and mainstream adoption that cult-favorite fashion hub Halohalo has over their more than a decade of operations. The brand garnered a following for their unique products made from an unlikely yet tasteful combination of materials, like leather and recycled banig, that are imbued with the spirit of Filipino craftsmanship.

Both local and global audiences have recognized their creative and playful designs. Halohalo was awarded Product of the Year in 2017 at the ArteFino Fair, a major showcase for locally-crafted Filipino products. Two years later, the brand was one of thirteen Filipino entries that were sent to Paris for one the greatest lifestyle conventions in the world called the Maison et Objet International Trade Fair.

Today, Halohalo’s product range includes bags (Halohalobags), home accessories (Halohalohome), and apparel (GoodTimes). Just this year, MEGA was in attendance when the brand marked a new milestone: its first brick-and-mortar space in Power Plant Mall.

BAYO

BAYO is a leader in sustainable fashion in the Philippines, committed to eco-friendly practices through the use of locally sourced materials and environmentally responsible production methods. The brand stands as a proud emblem of Philippine eco-conscious innovation, enriching the local fashion scene with its seamless combination of style and local essence. 

In 2021, at the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, it produced personal protective equipment (PPE) from sustainable fabric for hospital frontliners, and medically-reviewed masks for government offices and companies, retaining its production staff and employing more Filipino sewers. In 2017, the BAYO Foundation also launched their line as a vehicle for social good. The brand championed the skill and tenacity of the Filipino artisan by collaborating with local communities in Aklan, Bulacan, and Cebu for hand-weaving, and Benguet and Misamis Oriental for silkworm farming.

The creative language of BAYO is set on crafting pieces that are built to stand the test of time with their modern, practical, and trend-purveying products to shape one’s wardrobe. Since its birth, Bayo has been working to maintain its production of top quality, mindfully created, proudly Philippine-made apparel.

PATTON

PATTON, since 2020, has had a two-pronged agenda: to push forward the passion for local products; and to establish Filipino retail as a major player in the global world of fashion. In the last four years, the brand has been successful in doing both.

The fashion label is a much-needed antidote to fast fashion—from the fabrics to the production, every piece is made to the highest environmental standards. Focused on everyday essentials from loungewear, to athleisure, and streetwear, PATTON is the winning wardrobe hack for dressing with flair without the fuss; the standard for seamless, practical, and contemporary essentials, each garment made to be worn alone or mixed and matched with other closet staples. It’s ideal for the conscientious customer who appreciates comfort, quality, and style equally. Last June, global trendsetter and model Emily Ratajkowski was announced as the face of the Filipino brand, further cementing its status as a global movement in the Filipino fashion industry.

PATTON has worked with MEGA on several editorias for MEGA Active. The brand was also featured on MEGA’s February 2021 issue, and founder Patty Ang also graced MEGA’s May 2021 cover.

Harlan + Holden

Harlan + Holden continually sets the bar for the Philippine retail scene—whether it’s through creating buzz with a much-awaited campaign, constant product innovation that thrills its customers, or leading campaigns that bring Filipino skill and craftsmanship to the world stage. Founded in 2015 in Manila, the brand is committed to pushing beyond trends and fads, and forming, maintaining, and developing a global clothing line that is proudly local in its origins.

Buoyed by word-of-mouth from their initial audience and catapulting into omni-channel success, Harlan + Holden has moved their headquarters to Seoul, Korea. Across Asia, the brand now has 20 retail stores spread across Indonesia, South Korea, and the Philippines, famed for its curated collection of easy classics and seasonless pieces that are effortlessly chic. 

In 2020, the go-to lifestyle brand among fashion followers appointed Alessandra Facchinetti, a celebrated designer from Italy, as its first creative director. A recognized name in the high intensity fashion world, serving as creative director to Valentino, Gucci, Miu Miu, and Tod’s, she has joined hands with Harlan + Holden to express her creativity and experiences, and to board the brand’s innovative philosophy.

Following its success as a clothing atelier, the brand has evolved from clothes to coffee, carving a niche in the café industry with its Bonifacio Global City locations. 

The woman behind Harlan + Holden, Mia San Agustin, was featured as a MEGA Woman in its July 2017 issue. The brand was also in the September 2014 pages of MEGA’s Fashion Runway Trend Report.

Which among these local brands has shaped your sartorial story?

Official Mechanics

  1. A user is entitled to ONLY one vote per title under the Most Influential category.
  2. Voting lasts until September 11, 5:00 PM, Philippine Time.
  3. Only one winner will be named per title. 
  4. Voting is strictly and solely conducted via the MEGA website.
  5. Vote buying, cheating, and any other methods used to gain an unfair advantage are strictly not allowed
  6. The MEGA team will have an auditor to review all votes and take action on any anomalous votes. (ie: spam, bots, etc.)
  7. MEGA will tabulate the votes once the voting period is officially closed. The nominee with the most votes will be declared the winner in their respective title.

To vote for other MEGA Fashion Awards 2024 Categories, click here.
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