Fashion Week transcends mere runway shows for Max Collins; it embodies a rich cultural experience, particularly in a city like Paris. Attending various events has allowed Max to appreciate the city's romanticism through its architecture, art, and the people. But as she constantly digs deeper into the world of fashion, she does so with herself as well.

Max wears a small Gemelli Bag in Fondant, WT22 W1 Canalazzo Boots, W23 Earrings, PF23 W1 Necklace, all from Bottega Veneta Marts Romero

The role of fashion is evolving, especially during global events like Paris Fashion Week, where content creators like Max play a pivotal role. By showcasing diverse brands and her personal experiences, she bridges the gap between the industry and the public, making fashion more accessible. This engagement allows her to share her experiences and insights with a wider audience, helping them appreciate fashion's artistry and beauty through her lens.

Personally for Max, as a representative of the Philippines, she strives to convey a sense of ease and aspiration in her style, demonstrating that high fashion can be both aspirational and attainable. Case in point: her full Bottega Veneta look for this shoot.

In this interview, Max becomes candid on how Fashion Week play a role in her life and career.

Question: Fashion Week is often about more than just the shows; it's a cultural experience. How do you balance showcasing fashion with experiencing the art and culture of Paris?

Max: “I have had the privilege to experience a few fashion events during Fashion Week, while also being able to visit some museums and cultural sites in Paris. I have seen the romanticism of Paris in the air, in the architecture, the art, the people. I can see that the fashion I exhibited over fashion week somewhat mimics that theatricality and refinement.”

How do you see the role of fashion evolving, especially during global events like Paris Fashion Week, where you're representing diverse brands?

“As content creators, we are invited to these events to see the latest fashion collections and trends. We usually wear pieces from the brands of the events we attend, more often than not, experiencing the latest collections for ourselves. Each brand and collection is different from the next.

One way I see the role of fashion evolving is by opening its doors to content creators like myself. It allows people like me, who wouldn’t normally be involved in the fashion industry to experience it first hand, and to share it with the world. I share what I had learnt and seen with these variety of brands, hopefully allowing people to get their own perspective and understanding of it. To appreciate its art and beauty, and make it their own.

Fashion evolves by making it more accessible to the public, and its role is evolving in peoples’ lives by allowing it to be seen.

As someone representing the Philippines on an international scale, I hope to convey ease, fun, while also maintaining refinement in my looks. I want to show that fashion is aspirational but can also be attainable.”

As someone who’s constantly in the public eye, what advice would you give to young Filipinas looking to make their mark in their respective fields?

“The advice I can give to young Filipinas is to take their chances and to keep pushing themselves in their respective fields. Take every opportunity you can get, because you don’t know where it might lead you. I hadn’t considered myself someone who would pursue a career that had to do with fashion, let alone get to Paris Fashion Week. But here I am.”

How do you maintain a sense of authenticity and personal identity while navigating the pressures and expectations of the public and media?

“I try to focus on who I am as an individual before anything else. I think about my values and how I can convey that to the public in a way that they can understand me and what I represent better. It’s easy to compare myself to others in the same field of work, but I try to show bits and pieces of myself so that the public may see me as my own individual person.”

In the Philippines, Bottega Veneta is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., and is located at Greenbelt 4 and Shangri-La Plaza Mall East Wing. Visit ssilife.com.ph or follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information

Photos taken by Martin Romero, courtesy of SSI

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