Mase John Marcus Banday / CreateSmart Young Design Talent Special Award 2023
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"As someone of Filipino heritage, born and raised in Hong Kong, my background has greatly influenced my design perspective. These dual identities can be both inspiring and confusing, but I believe they are what make me unique, and the stark contrast between the two cultures adds an interesting dynamic to my work.”
John Marcus focuses on the art of evening wear. He obtained a Higher Diploma in Fashion Design in 2023 at the Hong Kong Design Institute, where he was recognised for his exceptional talent and achievements, and won the Champion of the Thread of Creativity at Centrestage 2023 after receiving the HKSAR Government Scholarship 2022 and VTC Design Fund Scholarship 2022. He also studied for a Master's Degree for one semester at the Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi) in Italy on an Exchange Studies programme.
While he was at the HKDI, John Marcus showed his creative vision in his graduation collection "Maharlika," meaning royalty in Tagalog. This womenswear collection was inspired by the K-Pop song "Feel Special", and influenced by three elements that hold personal significance for him: Filipino culture, womanhood, and painting. John Marcus credits his family and friends, and particularly the strong women who have shaped his life, as well as the artist Georgia O'Keeffe, for influencing this collection that aims to empower women so that they feel regal through cultural representation, a feminist perspective, and a touch of formality. It pays homage to Filipiniana, the iconic Filipino national dress, and uses pina fabric, made from pineapple fibre.
John Marcus would like to continue to study fashion in Italy as, by immersing himself in innovative design methodologies and cutting-edge technologies within the fashion industry, he seeks the necessary training and skills to become an innovative creator of women's evening wear.
