A RUNWAY REFRESHED
SoFA graduate Mick Perez made a splash at the Aquafina runway with his collection of casual wear with azure hues and serene waves
Being the best isn’t just about the adulations and distinctions, but the confidence and power to push through the day-to-day trials. This mindset is seen through how we look, dress, and act. Aquafina, in partnership with Zalora and SoFA Design Institute, celebrated this way of life through Refresh the Runway, an immersive, water-inspired fashion show and competition last August 2, 2019. After a curated Aquafina x Zalora collection graced the runway, 10 featured designers from SoFA presented their collection of looks that harness the refreshing nature of water. The pieces were judged by industry veterans Michael Leyva, Rosenthal Tee, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, Aquafina brand ambassador and Ms. Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, and PepsiCo Multi-Market Head of Marketing Mikey Rosales. In the end, Mick Perez was crowned the grand winner with his simple yet elegant collection of easy-to-wear, streamlined, and innovative apparel.
The competition’s design prompt of everyday wear inspired by water was right up Perez’s alley. His design language places functionality over excess with a hint of Japanese flair, such as Shingo Sato cuts and pop culture references. “I have always believed in the principle of placing rest and celebrating absence in clothes. Most of my pieces don’t have closures–no zippers, no buttons. You can easily wear it like a t-shirt.” But some key visuals in his pieces are left unstated, such as ruffles representing womanhood, and clear acrylic bangles depicting ice cubes. His distinct design choices fit his vision of everyday fashion for women. “The woman of today is busy. She needs to wear clothes for work and for a night out. I wanted the pieces in the collection to be interchangeable, to wear and partner with anything else.”
Similar to his designs, Perez believes that being the best is not achieved through flamboyance, but with proper education, preparedness, and health. “When you’re educated, you’re informed and always ready to face the world at your best. If you’re clueless, you’re not going to survive.” Perez was undoubtedly at his best as the victor of the runway and he was thankful for the community’s support. “The show definitely opened a lot of opportunities for everyone. We may have been competitors on stage, but we were equals backstage with all the support. Everybody came out as winners because of that experience and I’d like to thank Aquafina for making it happen.”