Austin Cabatana soars high in his Mister International 2023 national costume
The Mister International 2023 edition in the Philippines is already in full swing! As they explore the northern regions of the country, the candidates appear to be having a blast despite the intense competition.
Doing an amazing job as the host delegate is our very own Austin Cabatana.
As one of the heavy favorites for the crown, Austin is handling the pressure quite well. Consistently delivering and looking his best, the Philippine rep definitely makes it a point to grab everyone’s attention and be a standout.
With his towering height and magnetic presence as an advantage, he utilizes this as he goes up and above through his national costume.
Austin Cabatana soars high in his Mister International 2023 national costume
A creation of designer Patrick Isorena, the costume draws inspiration from the famous Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. Held each year in Clark, Pampanga, it is one of the longest-running aviation sports events in the country.
Bringing the magic of the festival to the competition, the costume features dozens of miniature hot air balloons. Rising overhead, Austin compliments this by wearing a colorful outfit that resembles the country’s iconic woven rags.
According to Isorena, the costume aims to represent sustainable fashion, but it also mentions the Filipino culture of weaving. He explains this by stating that:
Generations of indigenous folks have passed down countless weaving styles and traditions that are still being used today. Naturally, these practices made their way into our modern mundane lives. Being the resourceful Filipinos, we decided to commonly make rugs out of ‘retaso’ material. Thus, the humble basahan was born!
Mister International 2023 will stage its finals on October 20 at the Baguio Country Club.
