World Costume Festival

The World Costume Festival is a vibrant biennial international fashion event held in Vigan City, Philippines. This festival showcases a diverse array of both indigenous and modern costumes designed for live performances, including dramas, festivals, and multimedia presentations. Unlike typical fashion shows, the festival emphasizes attire intended for special rituals and theatrical performances.

A key objective of the festival is to boost tourism and promote traditional loom-weaving and fabrics. It highlights unique fabric materials and weaving techniques such as batik, abel, and piña, specialties from various regions of the Philippines.

The first widely recognized World Costume Festival took place in Vigan City in April 2013. However, there are mentions of a similar event in Davao City, Mindanao, dating back to 2001. Whether the festival will continue as an annual or biennial event remains under discussion. It also aligns with other fashion events across the Philippines and provides a preview for the World Stage Design Festival in Cardiff, Wales.

A highlight of the festival is the costume competition, where designers compete for the prestigious Golden Kneeling Carabao Trophy, symbolizing the Philippine water buffalo. The event also includes workshops, design classes, conferences, and lectures by international experts.

One of the most exciting aspects of the festival is the costume parade through the enchanting streets of Vigan. Participants don vibrant costumes representing various historical periods, making the parade a visual delight. Additionally, a body-painting competition further enhances the colorful spectacle. The Manila Standard has aptly described the event as "kaleidoscopic" capturing the essence of this dazzling celebration of culture and creativity.