Big Brothers of Pinoy Philippine Fashion: Audie and Joey Espino



Big Brothers of Pinoy Philippine Fashion: Espino brothers never stop discovering the best of local fashion like Pinoy Big Brother who's always on hunt for new housemates.


In business partnerships, many would say to avoid forming an enterprise with your siblings or anyone that is related to you by blood. It is better to do business dealings with your friends rather than to family members because when partnership problem arises, it would likely to affect family ties that might result to irreconcilable conditions. I do not know the history behind this entrepreneurial practice but still many who are into family business partnerships and some siblings will prove that there is no truth in it. Brotherhood defines a strong bond that will stand through the tests of time. Sharing a same vision and unites the same passion, this incredible siblings has put a mark that being brothers could make business partnerships work and attain success together.

Born from a family who loves culture and the arts, Audie and Joey Espino grew up with music, rhythm and grace. Their father was a former ballroom dance instructor and the influence of dance artistry molded the brothers to be more interested in theater arts and fashion that directed them in becoming the authorities in Philippine fashion today. The fashion masters, Espino brothers both studied at the University of Santo Tomas; Audie graduated Accountancy while Joey took up Business Management. They finished Commerce related courses but destiny brought them into a more vibrant path. Joey in his teens started training aspiring girls to become fashion models and beauty queens. Gifted with an eye for an “it girl”, Joey has produced winners in many local and international beauty pageants. He also directs runway shows and organize social events at a young age that made him established Runway Productions with brother Audie as a business partner in 1992. The dynamic duo heads Runway Productions for many years now and became known for staging numerous fashion shows both for local and international giant labels such as Hugo Boss, Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent and designers from Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines including Filipina fashion pride, Josie Natori. To continue discovering and shaping Filipino models shine here and abroad, Audie and Joey inked partnerships with Asia's top notch modelling agency, Calcarrie's Models International that founded a Manila home in 1994; Calcarrie's is a modelling brand that at par with global agencies like Elite, Ford in the United States and Storm in London. It prides itself of building the fashion careers of Sarah Meier, Teresa Herrera, Gayle Ong and Christine Bayer.

Espino's "it girls": Supermodels Charlene Almarvez, Danica Magpantay and Charo Ronquillo are now Pinoy pride walking the runways of the world and gracing the covers of elite fashion magazines.

The Espino brothers never stopped from reaching higher goals for Pinoy fashion industry. Their determination in realizing their dreams for Philippine fashion to be globally competitive and recognized, Joey and Audie creatively organized the biggest and prestigious bi-annual fashion event in the country dubbed as the Philippine Fashion Week that was launched in 1997. This event became a center stage for all Filipino designers and retail brands to showcase their collections reaching a wider market. Philippine Fashion Week, a counterpart of fashion weeks in New York, Milan and Paris has exposed more than 600 fashion collections, lifestyle brands and models linking the best of Filipino talents and products to the world. In 1999, Supermodel of the World, an international modelling pageant for women by Ford Model's bigwigs Jerry and Eileen Ford was brought to the country making Runway Productions as its local franchise holder. Filipina winners Charo Ronquillo, Charlene Almarvez and Danica Magpantay, who even bagged the 2011 international title in New York are now elite human mannequins on the runway and product endorsers on glossy magazines across the globe for several top brands.

Still in line with their fashion ambitions Audie Espino created his own fashion label ESAC which caters various clothing for women. He encourage designers in mastering their craft that would produce collaborations with other designers in making ESAC a bolder, brighter and bigger brand that would set trends globally. Audie also initiated another fashion brand called MODE+L, a lifestyle magazine and television show focusing on beauty and style. Just recently Joey set up a dream institution for models which is a first in the Philippines; Master School for Models is for experienced and aspiring models who wants to learn, improve and hone advanced techniques in the industry. Other ventures set up by the Espinos are Fashion Week TV, Supermodel TV and Runway Report, a look book type of magazine that keep Filipinos updated in the world fashion.

Many might think that all of these brotherhood success just happened in an instant? Then you got it wrong. Building a fashion empire like what the Espinos have done entailed a lot of sacrifice, courage, failure and determination before reaping the fruits of their hard work. Audie and Joey's bond have shown unparalleled union as brothers holding each others arms through different weathers and carrying each others back when setbacks come their way which shows their commitment in their efforts of putting Filipino talents, creations and ingenuity in the world map for everybody to appreciate. The Espinos never stop discovering the best of Philippine fashion like Pinoy Big Brother who is always on hunt for new housemates. I wonder if they would see me as a discovery...I'm good in cleaning the floors; perfect to whiten up their runways. That might be sound crazy but I guess it would be fun right? Let's just see what Big Brother would have to say...Audie and Joey Espino, Big Brothers of Philippine fashion.

 

Special thanks to Rosh Santos of Runway Productions; Photos courtesy of Calcarries Models International Philippines. Master Schools for Models is at 6752 LV Locsin Bldg. Ayala Corner Makati Avenues, Makati Tel. 4038607 http://www.masterschoolformodels.com/