ALITIA 2025 Through the Looking Glass: Where Fashion Meets Fantasy
By: Ali Tibay
Last January 24, 2025, the student body was led down the rabbit hole of the annual Center For Visual Arts (CFVA) Fashion Show entitled “ALITIA: The Fragments of Beauty” which took place in the St. Paul Activity Center for Excellence (SPACE). Showcasing a unique exhibition of various pieces made by each Fashion Design student, this event truly brought wonderland to life.
This year’s designers were Danielle Adriatico, Patrice Arabit, Sophia Baluyot, Zizi Binauhan, Samantha Cayton, Marsha Chua, Andrea Co, Rhianne Co, Michiko Del Rosario, Nicole Dumpit, Cianna Garcia, Aliya Garrovillas, Emmanuelle Hernandez, Victoria Maristela, Santana Mendoza, Atasha Pamotillo, Andrea Patawaran, Angela Ramos, Maggie Reyes, Riley Reyes, Mikayla Ricafort, Isabelle Rivero, Karylle Ruben, Mikaela Rubio, Elise Tabios, and Layna Tomista.
With the talent and creativity of each designer, every piece greatly encapsulated the essence of different classic characters from ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’ — many of which were inspired by the Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter, Card Soldiers, Caterpillar, The Red Queen, The White Queen, The White Rabbit, and of course, Alice.
The event opened with a performance by Hermosa’s Vocalists Chantel Guinid and Samantha Ang-Angco, setting a whimsical mood throughout the show. Performances by the student band Aplianim (consisting of Hannah Gaddi, Paula Gaddi, Chleo Toledo, Lara Uson, and featuring their guest vocalist Nimue Adsuara), and The Mary Janes (consisting of Lai Opeña, Ryn Perlas, Purple Quintos, and Luntian Santillan) were featured intermissions between each segment of the event.
The presentation of the last garment was followed by the walk of each designer with their respective models who proudly wore their creative pieces. As the class model walked onto the stage with the Fashion Design students and GIFT instructor, Ms. Kathleen Estrella, gathered around her, the passion and love for creating was seen on each of the designers’ faces, which was truly inspiring; perfectly intertwining fashion and fantasy seamlessly. In celebration of the people behind this world of fantasy, Visual Arts students: Visual Communication Beginners and Advanced who worked on the props and set design of the venue with their instructor, Sir Khauffer Fuerza, event committee heads, and CFVA core officers graced the runway and were applauded by the show audience.
ALITIA was more than a fashion show, it was an adventure through artistry and creativity. Each garment reflected the individuality of each designer and truly transformed the runway into wonderland. The whole collection explored themes of fantasy, duality, and the different fragments of beauty– proving that the Center for Visual Arts’ annual fashion show will always be an event to remember.
