Mak Tumang
{{short description|Filipino fashion designer (born 1986)}}
{{Philippine name|Velasco|Tumang}}
Mark Aldane "Mak" Velasco Tumang ({{IPA|tl|ˈmɐɹk bɛˈlɐskɔ tʊˈmɐŋ|lang}}; born November 10, 1986) is a Filipino fashion designer.{{Cite web|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/12/19/catrionas-gown-buoys-capampangan-designers/|title=Catriona’s gown buoys Capampangan designers|last=Manabat|first=Ashley|website=BusinessMirror|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-23}} He is popularly known for the Mayon gown and Ibong Adarna gown, dresses that he created for and worn by Catriona Gray where she won the Miss Universe 2018 beauty pageant.
Personal life
Mak Tumang was born as Mark Aldane Velasco Tumang on November 10, 1986 in Pampanga, Philippines. {{Cite web|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph//article/1779337|title=Dad proud of son who designed Catriona Gray’s gowns|last=Flora|first=Ian Ocampo|date=2018-12-18|website=Sunstar|language=English|access-date=2019-07-23}} He took up Theater Design and Production Design at De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde and studied a week-long couture embroidery course at Central Saint Martins.{{Cite web|url=https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/318537/mak-tumang-recalls-catrionas-passion-for-fiery-red-gown/|title=Mak Tumang recalls Catriona’s passion for fiery red gown|date=2018-12-20|website=Inquirer Lifestyle|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-23}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.preview.ph/fashion/mak-tumang-designer-spotlight-a00191-20190331-lfrm|title=Meet the Local Designer Behind Catriona Gray's Iconic Gowns|date=March 31, 2019|first=Steph |last=Sison|website=Preview.ph|access-date=2019-07-23}}
Fashion
= Background =
In interviews, Tumang shared that his interest in fashion started through his grandmother's skills in dressmaking, his voluntary design work in stage plays during high school, and experience in creating vestments for religious statues.{{Cite web|url=https://lifestyle.mb.com.ph/2019/05/26/royal-resurgence|title=Royal Resurgence|website=Manila Bulletin Lifestyle|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-23}}
In college, he was part of a theater group who introduced him and invited him to attend fashion events. Joining the Philippine Fashion Design Competition in 2007, he submitted an abaca dress as entry. In 2009, he won the Miss Earth Eco-Fashion Design Competition for coral reef-inspired, white abaca dress.
His atelier is located in Mexico, Pampanga.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.style/living/home/5040/atelier-tour-mak-tumang-catriona-gray|title=Metro Style|date=|website=Metro Style|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-07-23}}
= Beauty pageant gowns =
Gray wore his dress called "Sinag" gown during the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 contest where she won Best in Long Gown special prize.{{Cite web|url=https://entertainment.inquirer.net/266911/story-behind-catriona-grays-stunning-evening-gown-revealed-by-designer|title=Story behind Catriona Gray’s stunning evening gown revealed by designer|last=Cepeda|first=Cody|website=entertainment.inquirer.net|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23}}
Tumang became popular for the dresses he made for Catriona Gray for the Miss Universe 2018 pageant and that partly contributed to her success in the said contest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/fashion/142057/catriona-gray-gown-designer-mak-tumang-a722-20190330-lfrm|title=Meet Catriona Gray gown designer Mak Tumang|last=Ganal|first=F. M.|date=|website=PEP.ph|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-07-23}}{{Cite web|url=http://push.abs-cbn.com/2018/12/19/fresh-scoops/filipino-designer-mak-tumang-discusses-his-viral-c-198285|title=Filipino designer Mak Tumang discusses his viral creations for Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray |last=Benoza|first=Paulea|website=push.abs-cbn.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23}} Voltaire Tayag of Rappler commented that the Mayon gown, the dress Gray wore during the evening gown contest, made him a household name.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/fashion/224585-catriona-gray-ripple-effect-fashion|title=Fashion forward thinker: Catriona Gray’s ripple effect|last=Tayag|first=Voltaire E.|website=Rappler|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23}} Another creation known as the Ibong Adarna gown, which Gray wore in the preliminary round, received media coverage and became popular on social media.{{Cite web|url=https://metro.style/|title=Metro Style|website=Metro Style|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/12/14/18/watch-the-story-behind-catrionas-adarna-gown-original-sunray-earrings-in-miss-universe-prelims|title=Watch: The story behind Catriona’s ‘Adarna’ gown, original sunray earrings in Miss Universe prelims|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=2019-07-23}}
After the pageant, Gray wore Tumang's sampaguita-inspired dress in her homecoming, "Perla Oriente" gown during a special event at Smart Araneta Coliseum, coral jumpsuit for her Manila press conference and "Alon" gown during a street parade held in Cubao.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/specials/miss-universe/224018-photo-catriona-gray-sampaguita-inspired-jumpsuit-homecoming-parade|title=Loook: Catriona Gray's sampaguita-inspired outfit for homecoming parade|website=Rappler|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2019/02/27/styling-a-queen/|title=Styling a Queen|last=Sancha|first=Gilbert Kim|date=February 27, 2019|website=The Daily Tribune|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 23, 2019}}
= Notable dresses =
Other notable dresses that drew coverage in the media include Maymay Entrata's lava-inspired gown,{{Cite news|url=http://www.manilastandard.net/showbitz/music-concerts/288731/maymay-in-lava-dress-in-catriona-tribute-concert.html|title=Maymay in ‘lava dress’ at Catriona tribute concert|work=Manila Standard|access-date=2019-07-23|language=en}} Kylie Padilla's wedding dress,{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2018/12/12/1876465/photos-videos-kylie-padilla-aljur-abrenica-wed-rizal|title=In photos, videos: Kylie Padilla, Aljur Abrenica wed in Rizal|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-07-23}} Imee Marcos' "La Filigrina" gown worn during President Rodrigo Duterte's State of the Nation Address on July 22, 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/other-sections/news-videos/2019/07/22/1936940/watch-tired-political-clashes-imee-wears-red-and-yellow-ombr-dress-sona-2019|title=Watch: Tired of political clashes, Imee wears red and yellow ombré dress in SONA 2019|website=philstar.com|access-date=2019-07-23}} and Jillian Ward's galaxy-inspired gown worn during her Debut on February 25, 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/celebritylife/fashion/98571/jillian-ward-looks-radiant-in-her-galaxy-themed-debut-ball-gown/story|title=Jillian Ward looks radiant in her galaxy-themed debut ball gown|work=GMA Entertainment|access-date=2023-02-25|language=en}}
= Exhibit =
The Mayon gown, Ibong Adarna gown, and Sinag gown were displayed on an exhibit held at SM City Pampanga in December 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/specials/miss-universe/219827-photo-catriona-gray-gowns-mak-tumang|title=In Photos: Catriona Gray's gowns by Mak Tumang on display at SM Pampanga|website=Rappler|language=en|access-date=2019-07-23}} From March 16 to 23, his dresses were on an SM Mall of Asia exhibit called Universe: Celebration of World Class Talent.{{Cite news|url=http://manilastandard.net/spotlight/290887/mak-tumang-the-universe-celebration-of-world-class-talent.html|title=Mak Tumang the Universe: Celebration of World Class Talent|work=Manila Standard|access-date=2019-07-23|language=en}}
Reception
Reviewing Tumang's work, Manila Bulletin's Mark Samson wrote, "His masterful play in working with silk tulles, lace appliques, and crystal accents displays sophisticatedly daring details fit for a modern day princess... Each creation from his atelier to fashion runway exhibits holds the signature Mak Tumang qualities–elaborate designs, intricate embroidery, and detailed lacework."