Michelle Dee is more than ready to take the second Miss World title for the Philippines. Just take a look at her national costume created by Filipino designer Francis Libiran. The P1.3-Million dress features soft tulle, custom emboidery, and hand-made beadwork that depicts our nation's heritage.
The designer tells Preview that he immediately began conceptualizing the costume with his team after Michelle won Miss World Philippines. Working within a short time frame, Francis pulled together a team of 60 skilled artisans who made the dress in less than two months "to make sure [that] the ensemble is intricately detailed."
The costume is dubbed as "The Philippine Sun Princess," and is described as a golden couture terno that is "a symbolic work of art and labor of love," according to the designer.
Francis' rendition of this modern terno is said to be "a celebration and preservation of rich Filipino culture." The terno is inspired by the sun on our national flag, and was "customized [with] Francis Libiran's signature intricate Art Deco embroidery."
Francis further explained, "It is a symbol of optimism, positivity and courage. The custom embroidery pattern is inspired by the historic Visayan tattoo called Batek." This ancient type of tattoos were found in the early illustrations in the Boxer Codex which symbolized the bravery and triumph of our ancestors.
Michelle Dee will be competing at the Miss World 2019 finals this December 14 in London. We're rooting for you, Michelle!
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
