Vogue Philippines finally reveal Bea Valdes as their Editor-in-Chief

The first editor of Vogue Philippines has been selected in preparation for the launch of the title in September. Bea Valdes will take over as editor-in-chief, while Pam Quiones will take over as fashion director when she joins the team. In addition, Rhoda Campos-Aldanese has been appointed as the publisher of the title, while Trina Epilepsia Boutain has been appointed to the role of digital editor.

“The principles that guide our community and our capacity to persevere as a whole have been put to the test on an unparalleled global and local scale.” According to Valdes, “it is really important for Vogue to uphold its ideals of inclusivity, diversity, sustainability, and respect for our natural environment at this time. My aim for Vogue Philippines is to lead the industry with purpose, tapping into our Filipino values of optimism, bayanihan [the spirit of helping others], and empathy via our stories. This is my vision for Vogue Philippines to lead the industry. We highlight handicrafts and creative endeavors, hence fostering a sense of empowerment within our society and propelling Filipino culture forward.”

Valdes does not come from an editorial or styling background, which differentiates her from other editors-in-chief across the many international Vogue titles. She is an accessories designer whose work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times, CNN, The Financial Times, and Time, amongst other publications. Her designs are founded on Filipino craft and responsible fashion.

A license agreement has been reached between Condé Nast and Mega Global Licensing, a local publishing business that has more than 30 years of experience in the prestige publishing market. As a result of this agreement, Vogue Philippines will be published across print, digital, and social channels. This signifies Condé Nast’s continued expansion into the Southeast Asian area, where it already operates editions of its magazines in Thailand (since 2013) and Singapore (beginning in 2020).

According to Archie Carrasco, chairman and CEO of Mega Global Licensing, each of the new hires at Vogue Philippines will “share the same purpose, which is to uplift Philippine fashion and discover emerging talents who will shape the future of the industry.” This purpose is to “uplift Philippine fashion and discover emerging talents who will shape the future of the industry.” He goes on to say that every one of them possesses “a profound awareness and respect of local and worldwide fashion and aims to communicate to every age.”

Following the completion of the merger between Condé Nast’s international arm and its US division in 2019, this launch comes during a time of company-wide consolidation efforts. (Condé Nast also owns the publication known as Vogue Business.) Instead of having a separate editor-in-chief for each national title, Condé Nast is consolidating power and placing it in the hands of a select group of senior editors as part of its ongoing organizational reorganization.

Valdes spent her childhood in the Philippines and went on to receive degrees in creative writing, industrial design, and interior design from the University of the Philippines and the Inchbald School of Design in London, respectively. Valdes was honored for her professional accomplishments in 2010 by being selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Individuals (TOYM Awardee). This honor was bestowed upon her by Benigno Aquino III, who served as President of the Philippines at the time. More recently, she was recognized by Tatler Asia as one of the Most Influential People in Asia for the year 2021.
“Bea Valdes is completely entrenched in the world of fashion and possesses a comprehensive understanding of the requirements and limitations imposed by the industry.” According to Carrasco, “as a creative, she is capable of producing narratives via the prism of style, and as a leader, she is keen on discovering new and rising talents.”