Manila International Fashion Week brings global designers together at Season 7

Manila International Fashion Week (MIFW) concluded its seventh season on June 12 at the Grand Ballroom 1 and 2 of Okada Manila, reaffirming its position as one of the Philippines’ premier international fashion platforms.

Rufina Gelston, Hazel Rebadulla Riguera and Rose Santiago Licup 

Held under the theme “Bridging Nations Through Fashion,” the event brought together designers, models, creatives, industry leaders, media representatives and fashion enthusiasts from around the world for a celebration of creativity, culture and collaboration.

This year’s edition highlighted fashion as a universal language, featuring designers and delegates from the Philippines, Russia, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Through each runway presentation, MIFW celebrated cultural identity while fostering international partnerships and creative exchange.

The event also featured MIFW The Model Search 2026, the official modeling competition of Manila International Fashion Week. Guided by the theme “Your Platform. Your Power. Your Runway,” the competition provided aspiring and professional models with an opportunity to showcase their talent before industry professionals. Presented by Xpress and Well Hair, the competition reflected MIFW’s commitment to discovering and developing the next generation of fashion ambassadors.

Fritzie Noche and Rose 

Nathan DeLeon, Riza Oben Dormiendo, Fritzie Lexdy Noche, Brenda Shangme Darrough, Elmalyn Llamas, Rufina Villena Gelston and Sinclaire Castro

Rye Baile, Pinky Mission, Nathan de Leon, Fritzie Noche, Hazel Rebadulla Riguera and Menesia Contancio 

Angel Agustine and Alexander Heinen

Bench Bello and Sheralene Shirata 

Raymond Gorospe and Peter Sy

Rage Ramirez and William Debaud

Myse Salonga, Irina Bronskaya, Bench Bello and Amerigo Tatel 

Hazel Riguera and Myse Salonga

Adding a digital element to the program was the Content Creators Runway Challenge, where influencers and content creators from the fashion, beauty, travel and lifestyle sectors demonstrated how social media continues to shape and amplify the global fashion industry.

More than a runway event, Manila International Fashion Week Season 7 also served as a platform for cultural diplomacy, tourism promotion, business collaboration and international creative exchange. It strengthened relationships among designers, fashion organizations, cultural institutions and industry leaders while reinforcing the Philippines’ growing presence in the global fashion community.

Following the event, MIFW founder Bench Bello expressed his gratitude.

“Season 7 is a testament to what fashion can accomplish beyond the runway. It has the power to unite cultures, create opportunities, build friendships, and inspire future generations. We are deeply grateful to our international delegates, designers, sponsors, partners, media, volunteers and every individual who believed in our vision. Together, we proved once again that fashion knows no borders.”

Preparations are now underway for MIFW Season 8, themed “Fashion Beyond Borders,” scheduled for Nov. 28-29, 2026. The event promises an even larger celebration of fashion, culture, innovation and tourism.

Manila International Fashion Week is one of the Philippines’ leading international fashion platforms dedicated to promoting cultural exchange, sustainable fashion, creative collaboration, tourism and emerging talent. Through runway shows, fashion films, educational forums, competitions and international partnerships, MIFW aims to bridge nations through creativity while positioning the Philippines as a destination for fashion and the creative industries.