Earl Mabaquiao winner of Telio 2011

Kwantlen fashion student’s hard-work and dedication lands him first place in national design competition.

By Mae Velasco
[contributor]

I first met Earl Mabaquiao months ago at a bus stop near Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Richmond Campus. I recognized him from a past article in the Runner. He was one of three students from Kwantlen’s Fashion Design program that were chosen for an all-inclusive experience in Montreal at the Telio National Design Competition. They were chosen as “Canada’s Breakthrough Designers” in the top twenty-five finalists out of hundreds of applicants across Canada. The prize was to compete for one out of five scholarships, totalling $10,000.

I shared a bus home with the budding designer after an evening class a couple of months before the Montreal Telio trip. During the days of preparation for the competition, I saw the determination and hard work he’d put in. As the stories grew, along with his passion for design, his face lit with excitement as the days grew closer to the competition. I immediately took an interest in his work, and anticipated hearing about his experience in Montreal, whether he won or lost. There was a feeling of contentment, inspiration and motivation that inspired everything around him. He was doing what he loved to do, and it showed.

Design came to Mabaquiao at a young age. He played with clothes – he thought of it as creating, tackling, and solving a problem. For his pieces shown in Montreal, Mabaquiao considered the person that was wearing his designs. The fabrics should flow well and the longevity would last from season to season. His theme for the competition was “One Sequins At A Time.”

Mabaquiao described his experience at Montreal as amazing.

“Sometimes the feeling settles. I can’t believe I was Telio’s breakthrough [designer] and was the first ever in British Columbia to ever win!”

He was ecstatic to compete at a National level and reaffirm his career path.

When his name was called up on stage as the winner, Mabaquiao recalled the event as a moment he could live in forever. It was fast, he was hugging everyone, even the esteemed Mr. Telio himself. The stage was pitch-black, with flashes going off all around him. Pictures were taken fervently, with cameras following Mabaquiao backstage. The media-heavy atmosphere was overwhelming. Mabaquiao felt commended for what he loved to do.

Being at Kwantlen helped him to succeed, he said. The Bachelor of Design, Fashion and Technology program has a strong backbone for necessary training to be out there in the real world. This program definitely aided Mabaquiao to face reality knowing that business, creativity and technology aspects are up-to-date. Earl Mabaquiao encourages others to do this and follow their dream.