Filipina streetwear designer wins Fashion Week Brooklyn prize

Top row, left to right: Sarah Kim, Wendy Cui, Anastasia Nikitina, Mico Ylagan (PH), Virginia Liang, Sandra Zhang, Isabelle Ting, Stephanie Bongiorno; Bottom row, left to right: Jacqueline Paras (PH), Mrs. New Jersey 2017 Jeanette Josue (PH), Tracy Dizon Designer, Joyce Sheng, Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 1 Stephanie Retuya (PH). ALECKS MUTUC 

NEW YORK — Filipina quirky streetwear designer and milliner Tracy Dizon bagged the inaugural Rise Art&Design Fashion Design Competition launched by the label Rise Sport, a New York company specializing in sports apparel and accessories in collaboration with Fashion Week Brooklyn.

Her concept is a semi-autobiographical note from the memories of a visit to the bustling city of Hanoi, woven into an ethnographic account of Vietnam’s material culture. Titled Miss Hanoi: La Douleur Exquise, the winning creation consists of an eclectic ensemble appropriating Ao Dai dresses, Vietnamese fabrics, military uniforms and icons of Vietnamese history conceived for an “imaginary local girl.”

Vanessa wearing Tracy Dizon Ao Dai Short Dress matched with Sinamay Pompon Hat and Tracy Dizon x Rise Art & Design Limited Edition Sunglasses for S/S 2018 (earrings by Farah Abu). SHAWN PUNCH

Based in Manila, the designer currently owns and directs the brand Tiara by Tracy Dizon, which produces hats and fascinators for the local and international markets. She is also working as an independent fashion designer niching on quirky fashion.

Philippine celebrity Maxene Magalona, top model Sanya Smith and fierce fashionista Tessa Prieto Valdes are among Dizon’s noteworthy clientele based in Manila, Philippines. Tokyo-based fashion sditor, Misha Janette and “Sex and the City” costume designer Patricia Field are among her international VIP clientele. She has worked for labels Boardwalk (2013 People’s Choice Fashion Designer with several Billboard Ad Campaign nationwide) in the past and dabbled as a stylist and costume designer for local film and TV productions. Mentored by several Fashion experts such as Josie Natori (Natori), being a member of Manila Wear for Manila Fame and Jojie Lloren when she joined the second Philippine Edition of the popular reality fashion TV show, Project Runway, in 2009. Competed internationally in Japan Fashion Design Contest (Tokyo), AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search (Malaysia) and Vietnam Emerging Designer (Vietnam).

Tracy Dizon with her S/S 2018 Fashion and Millinery Collection Miss Hanoi La Douleur Exquise — Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 1 Stephanie Retuya (PH), Mrs. New Jersey 2017 Jeanette Josue (PH), Alexa Leimeister, Sarah Kim, Wendy Cui, Serenity Ford, Anastasia Nikitina, Shonda Wiliams, Mico Ylagan, Shaniece, Stephanie Bongiorno, Vanessa, Isabelle Ting, Sandra Zhang, Joyce Sheng, Virginia Liang,  Jacqueline Paras (PH).

As a winning prize Tracy Dizon’s collection, Miss Hanoi: La Douleur Exquise, was launched and featured last October 6 at Borough Hall, Brooklyn as part of the Fashion Week Brooklyn Spring/Summer 2018.

As another prize, Dizon launched a limited edition Sunglasses Collection for S/S 2018 in collaboration with Rise Art & Design (Rise Sport) to match her colorful collection. Tracy Dizon has created a lifestyle brand that widely offers head to toe look and matching sunglasses. She is one step closer to becoming a fashion and lifestyle name.

Tracy Dizon’s career journey is an inspirational story not only to single mothers with struggles and dreams. She has been persistent in trying out every single fashion contest for 12 years. Just before winning Rise Art&Design Fashion Design Competition she took a short sudden hiatus in aid of her son who was suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor. https://www.gofundme.com/medical-fundraising?term=Tracy+Dizon&country=US