Michael Cinco sparks jaw-dropping moments at LA Fashion Week

Michael Cinco joins models for his show finale. INQUIRER/Elton Lugay

LOS ANGELES—Michael Cinco managed to bring the splendor of the Northern Lights to the fashion runway this year.

The recently concluded LA Fashion Week (LAFW) showcase the Filipino fashion genius’ new Fall-Winter collection — green gowns depicting the dancing lights of the aurora borealis that stunned the crowd at his runway show at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

The Northern Lights-inspired couture gowns featured hand painting by Dubai-based young Filipino digital artists, who used luminescent paints to bring Cinco’s vision to life.

“His finale of the green gowns that were inspired by his current favorite travel destination—Iceland—and its beautiful Northern Lights or the aurora borealis took my breath away,” award-winning journalist Janet Nepales told INQUIRER.net. “It was a jaw-dropping, out-of-this-world experience, which I have not seen in any fashion show that I have ever attended! Bravo to Michael Cinco, the creative fashion genius.”

Longtime members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which presents the annual Golden Globes, Janet Nepales and husband, Ruben, have been following Cinco’s work since the Dubai-based designer participated in the 2013 Style Fashion Week LA Finale. His debut in LA back then made quite an impression among fashion critics, according to Janet.

Michael Cinco’s all-white collection (left) signifies his desire for peace in the world. The Northern Lights-inspired couture gowns (right) showcase hand painting by Dubai-based young Filipino digital artists, who used luminescent paints to bring Cinco’s vision to life. INQUIRER/Elton Lugay

True enough, Cinco appeared nine years later to headline LA Fashion Week’s Cars & Fashion Runway Show alongside Indian fashion designer Rocky Star. At this year’s show, Cinco tcalled for peace amid the continuing conflict in Ukraine and the recent slapping incident that marred the 2022 Oscars. He opened the show with an all-white collection, the focal point of “The Impalpable Dream of Peace” campaign that he started during Arab Fashion Week held earlier last month in Dubai.

“His all-white collection to signify his desire for peace in the world was simply perfect for these troubling times and a welcome sight after the world’s pandemic troubles. It had a calming effect. And it somehow signified hope for a better future. It was definitely different from his regular ‘Impalpable’ couture red carpet gown shows but it was like a breath of fresh air on the runway,” Janet Nepales said.

According to Errol Isip, casting director, runway coach and show director of LAFW since 2018, the best designer to work with especially for an event as large as LAFW, is “someone who knows what he is doing and is very creative,” and certainly Cinco fits the bill.

“Michael was super easy to work with. He had a vision and everything was well thought of, from the music, the walk, choreography and models. Everything was very specific and definitive, so it made my life easier,” Isip told INQUIRER.net.

Isip casts more than 500 models per season and directs 12 to 15 shows in March for the Fall-Winter season and 20 to 25 shows in October for the Spring-Summer season. He has worked with notable designers and brands including Naeem Khan, Porsche, Escada, Elie Madi, Greg Lauren, Gypsy Sport and Rocky Star.

From the very start, Isip has worked with Filipino designers during LAFW. For instance, Michael Leyva and Pia Gladys Perey were part of his first show with LAFW back in 2018. The late Rocky Gathercole joined the event in 2019 while Oliver Tolentino was a featured designer last year.

Working with Cinco this year was a dream come true and as exceptional as Isip had expected.

Held at the Hollywood home of Emmy Award winning producer Lisa Lew, a private dinner was hosted by Ruben and Janet Nepales to honor Michael Cinco and U.S.-based Filipino talents who gathered in L.A. to catch the fashion show. INQUIRER/Elton Lugay

“Michael Cinco is a designer who knows how to make an impression with his collections, and this season in LAFW was no exception. When I first saw Michael Cinco’s show in Dubai, his designs always left an impression on me. This season, he was more toned down than usual but the luxury of these clothes is still there for sure! The theme ‘Impalpable Dream of Peace’ really spoke to what people feel right now with everything going around us—it felt so dreamy and ethereal watching them come alive before my eyes on videos and seeing photos, about how intricate each piece had been crafted from start till finish,” Isip said.

According to Ruben Nepales, there has been a resurgence of Filipino pride with not just one but several Filipino Americans getting nominated for the Grammys, and Michael Cinco’s fabulous show at LAFW upped the ante for the benefit of every Filipino.

A private dinner held at the Hollywood home of Emmy Award-winning producer Lisa Lew was hosted by the Nepaleses to honor Cinco and West Coast-based Filipino talents who gathered in LA to catch the fashion show.

“For you to grace us with your presence and to show us that fantastic collection is good news for all Filipinos, for all of us because anything to celebrate the Filipino talent, Filipino genius in fashion, photography, publishing, modeling and everything—anything to celebrate Filipino talent, we are for at,” Ruben said as he led a toast to Cinco last April 4.