It Takes a Village: The Mothers Behind Fashion Week Asia

Four working moms share on building Asia’s newest fashion week in just two and half months, and the lessons from raising kids that got them there

When Fashion Week Asia lit up Manila from October 20 to 24, 2026, the spotlight rightly fell on the designers and their collections. But behind the scenes, a village was at work.

The inaugural FWA was the long-held dream of AGC Power Holdings Inc. chairman Archie Carrasco, who has championed Filipino artistry and creativity for many years. 

To bring it to life, alongside him was Fashion Week Asia co-chairperson and co-founder Apples Aberin. Together, they gathered people from fashion, media, and business. Three of its key players were Peewee Reyes Isidro, editor-in-chief of MEGA Asia, designer Rosanna Ocampo, and Mitch Suarez, CMO of Newport World Resorts, FWA’s official venue partner and co-presentor.   

All four of these notable women are also moms.

Building something that had never been done

For Aberin, the hardest part was asking people to believe in something untested.

“Asia already has established fashion weeks, so we were asking designers, buyers, media and industry leaders to make time for a new platform, travel to Manila, and trust that it would be worth their while,” she says.

“And because this was our inaugural edition, we didn’t have a track record to show them. What we had was a vision, a strong ecosystem of media brands, a vast network of relationships and a genuine belief in what Fashion Week Asia could become.”

Then came the logistics: designers flying in, hotel bookings, collections clearing customs, fittings. All of it had to fit into just two and a half months.

Still, Aberin is grateful to everyone who took a chance on the idea. “I’m especially grateful to the designers who entrusted us with their collections, the local and international media who helped tell their stories, our buyers’ consultants who connected us with the industry, fellow Fashion Week organizers who generously shared their experience and support, and, of course, our sponsors.”

Chief Marketing Officer of Newport World Resorts, Mitch Suarez, says saying yes was easy.

“The fit felt very natural to us. Fashion Week Asia was creating a new regional platform, and Manila had the opportunity to be where that story began,” she says.

“Fashion Week Asia brought together design, craftsmanship, and distinct Asian perspectives on an international stage. For us, supporting the inaugural edition was an opportunity to offer the scale and hospitality of Newport World Resorts while helping establish Manila as a place where significant regional events can take shape.”

For Suarez, the best part was knowing that guests felt at home away from home.

MEGA Editor-in-Chief Pewee Reyes-Isidro expressed that going all out for Fashion Week Asia just made sense for them. “MEGA showed its support by doing a thorough and timely coverage of the event. This involved social media as well as [the] website. MEGA has always been a staunch supporter of Filipino designers. We love that it opens that same support to creatives across Asia, because that’s what we’ve always championed. Through our platforms, we want to bring our readers closer to the people and ideas shaping Asian fashion, and help them understand why it matters.”

A stage for designers, and for creatives

Designer Rosanna Ocampo, who has shown collections in Milan, says she was honored to be invited to the inaugural show.

“There was something very special about bringing that experience home. Manila is where I started, where my brand was built, and where so much of my instinct for color, energy and dressing comes from,” she says. “Showing here again, but through the lens of everything I’ve learned and experienced internationally, it felt like a homecoming in a way.”

Her collection, ALBA (After Dark, Before Dawn), is about that in-between hour. “It explores that moment between darkness and first light, when the night isn’t quite over, but something new is beginning. There’s a tension between structure and sensuality, polish and freedom, which is something I’m always drawn to.”

Her process starts with a feeling. “I normally begin with a feeling: where is this woman going, what does she want to feel like, what kind of night is she having? Then comes color, texture and movement. We know who we are now as a brand. A party resort is very much our world, so every season is less about reinventing ourselves and more about finding a new way to tell that story.”

For Isidro, telling designers’ stories is what MEGA does best. “We take pride in helping amplify the stories and the purpose of the designers. Additionally, we are able to show the creative talent of the individuals that mount a show and or event, from the production teams, the models, to the organizers. As they say, it takes a village.”

One of her favorite moments was seeing Rajo Laurel’s collection called ARCHIVO on the runway, which felt like coming full circle. “In every moment in Rajo’s life and career, MEGA has been there to document his milestonesMilestonesSkills most children reach by certain ages, such as smiling, sitting, walking, speaking, and sharing. They serve as general guides rather than strict deadlines, and parents should talk to a. It is a blessing to witness his growth and evolution. And to see his designs walk the runway is especially heartwarming because it represented eras in his life. In a way, it also represented MEGA’s journey in fashion, and it’s just such a meaningful occasion.”

What motherhood taught them about leading

Aberin, Ocampo, Isidro, and Suarez each describe parts of motherhood that made them better at their careers. And vice-versa.

Apples Aberin has worn many hats, from model and fashion journalist to marketer, corporate leader, and now media and Fashion Week Asia co-founder. “I’ve had a few different chapters in my life… And I’ve enjoyed discovering that there’s always something new to learn, regardless of your age,” she says.

Then she adds: “Being a mother has probably taught me more about leadership than any job I’ve ever had.”

Raising her two children taught her to step back, listen and let others find their own way. It also taught her patience, which she says she’s still working on. Now a grandmother, she’s more aware of how precious time is.

Mitch Suarez points to empathy, clear vision and courage. “You learn to go beyond yourself, look at the bigger picture, and consider the many lives affected by a single decision,” she says. “It has also taught me that reinvention is intrinsic to growth, and that challenges (or curveballs) are opportunities to push beyond what we think is remotely possible.”

“Taking on something as epic as Fashion Week Asia is much the same. It requires vision, adaptability, and the courage to build something new while trusting the process,” she continues.

Suarez also reminds us of the power of community, collaboration, and bringing people together to make great things happen.

Rosanna Ocampo says her children have had a front-row seat to her journey. “My children have watched me build this business while raising them. They’ve seen the beautiful parts, but they’ve also seen the difficult ones: the long days, the disappointments, the risks, the moments when things don’t go according to plan and you have to get up the next morning and keep going.”

Motherhood made her a more decisive leader. “My time matters differently now. I’ve learned to choose what deserves my energy, to trust my instincts and, perhaps most importantly, not to be afraid of starting again or taking a risk.”

It also taught her to leap without waiting to feel ready. “At the end of everything, a show, Milan, a difficult day at work, I still come home and I’m Mommy. That keeps everything beautifully in perspective.”

Peewee Reyes-Isidro has a message for the next generation of creatives, and for the parents raising them: “Be proud of our culture because we have so much heritage and history that we can weave in whatever we do. We need not look so much outward for inspiration. Let’s look inward, and celebrate and champion our unique voice, craftsmanship and talent.”

It’s only the beginning

Fashion Week Asia has concluded, but these four women are carrying its lessons into whatever they build next.

Even after the exhaustion, Aberin says the experience gave her a lot to hold on to. “One of the best things about getting older is realizing that you don’t have to stop growing or trying something new. You can still take risks, make mistakes, learn and surprise yourself,” she says.

“And if there’s one thing I hope I’ve taught my children, it’s that life doesn’t have to get smaller as you get older. There is always room for another adventure.”

Suarez sees more ahead, especially for tourism. “Fashion Week Asia showed how a major creative event can bring people into the metro and then create activity across hospitality, dining, business, and tourism. That is the opportunity we see in Entertainment Tourism. A compelling event can become the reason for the trip, and the destination gives people reasons to stay and discover more.”

Congratulations to the village that is Fashion Week Asia 2026! We can’t wait to see what you have in store next year. 

Relive the event by visiting the Fashion Week Asia website at thefashionweekasia.com

Know more about AGC Power Holdings’ events

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More Than Skin Deep: What Allure Philippines Means for Filipino Moms Raising Daughters