The Outstanding Filipino Awards will launch TOFA Masterclass, a new conversation platform designed to bring Filipino and Filipino American leaders together with audiences for intimate discussions on craft, career, culture and community.
Its first program, TOFA Masterclass: Filipino Fashion Visionaries, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Triad Theater in Manhattan during New York Fashion Week.
The event will feature former TOFA honorees and fashion figures Josie Natori, Michael Cinco, Alexis Monsanto, and Kenneth Barlis in three journalist-moderated conversations. Rather than a technical workshop or runway show, the program is designed as an evening of storytelling and professional insight from fashion leaders whose work spans entrepreneurship, global branding, couture, education and red-carpet design.
“TOFA Masterclass” is being introduced as a continuing series that will explore different fields of Filipino achievement. Future programs may focus on the performing arts, health and wellness, education, entrepreneurship, public service, immigration, media and community advocacy.
The opening conversation, “From Wall Street to World Stage: The Josie Natori Story,” will feature Natori in discussion with entrepreneur and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis.
Natori is the founder and CEO of The Natori Company, a global lifestyle brand that includes lingerie, ready-to-wear, home, bedding, fragrance and accessories. Before entering fashion, Natori worked in investment banking at Merrill Lynch, where she became the company’s first female vice president in investment banking.
The second segment, “Designing the Dream: Building a Fashion Brand With Purpose,” will bring designer Kenneth Barlis into conversation with Jessy Daing and Jcas Castro of Over a Glass or Two.
Barlis, who was born and raised in Zamboanga and later moved to the United States, developed his eponymous atelier and launched the KB School of Fashion in 2018. The school trains models for pageants and runway shows, complementing his work in custom fashion and celebrity dressing.
The final conversation, “Couture Without Borders: Filipino Artistry on the Global Stage,” will pair couturiers Michael Cinco and Alexis Monsanto with entertainment journalists Ruben and Janet Nepales.
Cinco, a Dubai-based designer, is known internationally for elaborate couture creations, hand-embellished gowns and red-carpet designs worn by celebrities and royalty. Monsanto, a Los Angeles-based designer, has earned recognition for fashion collections and theatrical runway presentations that bring together craftsmanship, storytelling and modern glamour.
The event is timed to follow Cinco and Monsanto’s co-presented New York Fashion Week runway show on Sept. 12, presented by Art Hearts Fashion. The designers are expected to debut Spring/Summer 2027 collections at the Angel Orensanz Center on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
TOFA Masterclass aims to create an intergenerational space for students, emerging designers, entrepreneurs and fashion followers to hear directly from Filipino creatives who have built careers across international markets.
The program will conclude with a collective reflection, optional audience questions and a photo opportunity with the featured guests.
The evening will be hosted by Filipino American performer and producer Lora Nicolas Olaes. New York State Assemblymember Steven Raga, who represents Assembly District 30 in Queens, will attend as guest of honor. Raga’s district includes Woodside, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Maspeth and Jackson Heights. To RSVP, contact Hannah Suarez at 212-500-0591.
