Huawei’s Fashion Forward Gala Night Celebrated the Intersection Between Technology, Fashion, and Art

The night saw Vogue Philippines’ editors and contributing photographers speak on the role of technology in the context of fashion and photography

“Fashion is not just about clothes, it’s about breaking boundaries,” says Jericho Rosales. The tenured Filipino actor opened up Huawei’s Fashion Forward Gala Night, which was a culmination of the aesthetic-driven direction Huawei has been working toward throughout the past year. The event was a commemoration of two things: the official launch of the brand’s newest Pura 70 series, and the unveiling of a photo exhibit that showcased images exclusively taken from the brand’s portfolio of smartphones. 

As part of the gala’s sequence of events, Huawei invited a number of speakers to discuss the multi-faceted nature of technology, and how it intersects fashion, art, and photography. Among them, Vogue Man Philippines’ editor Danyl Geneciran opened the talks with a short discussion about fashion in the context of the modern man, while also interjecting his own personal philosophy on the subject as well. Danyl also talked about his experience of shooting a fashion editorial using the camera features of the Huawei Pura 70 Pro, mainly highlighting its ease of use and the similarities of its functions to a proper DSLR camera. 

Vogue Philippines’ beauty editor, Joyce Oreña, followed soon after as she talked through her involvement as an art director for the “Moments of Beauty” photoshoot using the same smartphone. In a fashion similar to Vogue Philippines’ previous Apo Whang Od and Dr. Dolores Ramirez features, the editorial sought to continue to challenge stereotypes by focusing on the celebration of Filipino athletes in the context of beauty. 

Vogue Philippines Beauty Editor Joyce Oreña presenting the Moment of Beauty exhibit images. Photo by Karlo Torio

“These photographs are not your conventional portrayals of beauty. They’re a celebration of Filipino spirit shown through the lens of our proud athletes. Each image provides an intimate glimpse at calluses, muscles, and scars,” Joyce says. Captured through the lens of Kim Angela Santos and Andrea Quintos, the images hoped to portray the “badges of honor” earned by each athlete through their training and dedication to their respective sports. 

“These are marks of the countless hours of training, dedication, and fighting against the odds to achieve greatness. These photos were taken using the Huawei Pura 70’s Macro Lens, which allowed us to capture the intricate details of their hard-earned badges of honor,” Joyce adds. 

The series of discussions concluded with talks led by photographers who have worked with Vogue Philippines in the past, including  Artu Nepomuceno, Jan Mayo, and Neal Oshima. Each of them showcased images they personally captured using the smartphone, culminating in the opening of a photo exhibit dedicated to the photographers that participated in Huawei’s initiative to move forward through the lens of fashion, art, and creation. 

For more information on the Huawei Pura 70 Series of smartphones, visit their website.