AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 finds its Top 2 Philippine finalists
AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search, the regional fashion designer competition kicked off its first round of auditions at Manila today.
During this round, Jerome Tayao and Maria “Esme” Palaganas have been chosen to represent the Philippines in the Grand Finale which takes place in Kuala Lumpur this August.

The AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 – A platform to be seen and recognized
The AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 has now expanded to cover all ten Asean countries this year. The competition promises to provide aspiring designers the opportunity of a lifetime to compete on a regional level and showcase their collection on a professional runway during the KL Fashion Week Ready to Wear.

A total of over 50 participants were shortlisted from a pool of online submissions with representations from top fashion schools across the Philippines such as De La Salle University, Fashion Institute of the Philippines, and School of Fashion and the Arts.
According to Hannah Serrano, Head of Crewing for Philippines AirAsia, the great turnout today signifies how AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search has evolved into a powerhouse competition for aspiring fashion designers from across the region to compete. She adds that the local designers they met today showcased some very bold and fresh perspectives to the Asean-inspired theme. And though she believes that AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 will offer tough competition, she is confident that the Top 2 selected today will do the Philippines proud during the Grand Finale in August.

During the audition earlier, aspiring Filipino designers went through extensive rounds of judging and were selected based on design creativity, originality, consistency of their collection, adherence to the Asean theme, practicality and stage presentation potential.
The regional auditions of AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 will continue in all the capital cities throughout all Asean countries. Two from each country will be selected to battle for top honors during the Grand Finale in Kuala Lumpur this August.
BIG things in store for the AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 grand winner
Many great things await the grand winner of AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017. Both finalists from today’s audition in Manila stand a chance to win the following:
- 150,000 AirAsia BIG Points
- PHP280,000.00 fund to produce a capsule collection to be sold on fashionvalet.com
- A six-page fashion spread in AirAsia’s in-flight magazine, Travel3Sixty
- AirAsia flights and mentorship from the KLFW RTW
- A confirmed slot to showcase their full collection in KL Fashion Week RTW 2018
AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 – Manila Leg judges

The panel of judges for the audition today of the Manila leg of AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017 consisted of the following personalities and individials:
- Andrew Tan, Founder of KLFW RTW
- Hannah Serrano, Head of Crewing for Philippines AirAsia
- Veen Dee Tan, Head of Marketing for FashionValet
- Suki Salvador, Vice President, Creative Director & Editor for One Mega Group
- Anthony Ramirez, Philippines Fashion Designer
AirAsia is also KL Fashion Week RTW 2017’s Preferred Travel Partner and will be flying in fashion designers from AirAsia and AirAsia X Groups’ extensive route network including India, Japan, China, South Korea and Australia to showcase their latest collection at the KLFW RTW runway.

Congratulations to Esme and Jerome, our two deserving winners of the Manila Leg of AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017! We know you’ll do us proud. See you in the Grand Finale in August!
Follow AirAsia’s YouTube Channel for webisodes featuring the journey of all participants for the Asean-wide AirAsia Runway Ready Designer Search 2017, or follow the hashtag #AirAsiaRunway on other social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.