MANILA, Philippines—Last July 31, we ventured into the wet evening, swam through floods, and hit Warehouse 135 to check out Diesel’s launch of its Fall/Winter ’08 collection aptly titled, “Diesel Rocks Manila.”

More than an unveiling, it was a full-on party with music, dance, and fashion converging in true Diesel style. Mashed-up beats provided by the musical tag-team of Lady Trinity and Funk Avy formed an aural backdrop to the evening’s activities.

To keep energy levels up, freestyle dancers held court in the middle of the floor and dazzled the crowd with their unique moves.

At midnight, the lights dimmed to signal the start of the fashion presentation. The center platform was reconfigured to reveal a five-foot custom-made treadmill that acted as the stage for the models to walk, run and dance wearing the new collection.

Definitely not run-of-the-mill (pun intended), the use of the machine (inspired by the Argentinean installation slash performance art show, Fuerzabruta) was something fresh for the crowd.

The fashion exhibited the coming season’s theme of opposites and contrasts, where dizzying choices could be made to suit any taste or fancy.

Elements like heavy and light materials, geometric and unstructured silhouettes, and loose and tapered fits will come into play depending on your mood and attitude. In the show, oversize and slouchy tops were matched with slim-fit jeans that allowed freedom of movement (especially if you want to run on, say, a treadmill!).

After the show, we took turns having our own fashion photo shoot in the Clickbooth as we partied alongside the Diesel Style Ambassadors: VJs Maggie Wilson and Sanya Smith, athletes Paolo Araneta and Phil Younghusband, and Spongecola’s Yael Yuzon, who were all decked out in their favorite Diesel ensembles.

We got up on the treadmill and danced until the early hours of the morning. This party rocked. Diesel rocked!