Archie Carrasco, Architect of Philippine Fashion and Lifestyle Media, Joins The BoF 500

Archie G. Carrasco, Chairman and CEO of AGC Power Holdings Corp. (AGC PHC), has been named to The BoF 500 Class of 2026 under the Media category, joining The Business of Fashion’s global community of individuals shaping the fashion industry.

Carrasco is among 100 new members from 33 countries and 48 nationalities selected for the 2026 class. The BoF 500 draws on nominations, industry intelligence, and research by BoF editors, with candidates evaluated on leadership, creativity, innovation, social impact, and success. The index now includes 1,713 people representing 104 nationalities.

For Carrasco, the recognition follows years of building an increasingly expansive Philippine media ecosystem. Its reach now extends across fashion, beauty, luxury, music, architectureArchitectureThe art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to createGo to Architecture Glossary and design, business, food, parenting, sports, and culture.

Building a Platform for Filipino Creativity

Carrasco’s journey in publishing began long before the arrival of the international titles now associated with AGC PHC. He joined One MEGA Group in 2007, became its CEO in 2019, and acquired the business the following year. Through his work in media, Carrasco encountered the writers, designers, photographers, stylists, artists, and entrepreneurs who would shape his view of what Philippine creative industries needed.

“The more people I met, the more convinced I became that the problem was never a shortage of talent—it was a shortage of platforms and opportunities,” Carrasco says.

The launch of Vogue Philippines in 2022 became a defining expression of his response to that gap. The partnership brought the Philippines into Vogue’s international publishing network while creating another platform through which Filipino fashion, culture, and creativity could reach audiences beyond the country.

It also established a model that would become increasingly visible across the wider AGC PHC portfolio: bringing international media institutions to Philippine audiences while creating opportunities for Filipino talent and stories to travel in the other direction.

Related Read: APEA Awards Archie Carrasco as Master Entrepreneur for Media and Entertainment 2022

The Architect of a Media Ecosystem

Today, the AGC PHC portfolio spans Vogue Philippines, MEGA, GQ Philippines, Allure Philippines, VMAN Southeast Asia, Lifestyle Asia, Billboard Philippines, Rolling Stone Philippines, Robb Report Philippines, Delish Philippines, The Business Manual, Modern Parenting, The GAME, and BluPrint.

Within this ecosystem, BluPrint provides a dedicated platform for Philippine architectureArchitectureThe art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to createGo to Architecture Glossary, design, and the built environment, extending the group’s representation of Filipino creativity beyond fashion and lifestyle into the spaces, objects, and ideas shaping the country’s design culture.

The network is set to expand again with Harper’s BAZAAR Philippines, the latest addition to the portfolio. Announced on October 1 through AGC PHC’s partnership with Hearst Magazines International, the Philippine edition is scheduled to launch in November 2027, with a focus on fashion and culture and particular attention to haute couture, art, craftsmanship, and luxury.

Taken together, the breadth of this portfolio gives context to Carrasco’s emergence as an architect of Philippine fashion and lifestyle media. More than accumulating titles, the network creates distinct platforms for different parts of Filipino creative life.

Related Read: BluPrint Unveils New Book, “Design Conversations”

Bridging Filipino Talent to the World

Carrasco describes the purpose that now connects these ventures simply: “To bridge the Philippines to the world.”

That bridge works in both directions. International titles give Philippine audiences access to established global media institutions, while their local editions provide Filipino designers, artists, musicians, architects, image-makers, and storytellers with platforms that connect to audiences and networks beyond the country.

“I want our platforms to bring the world’s best ideas and institutions to Filipino audiences, but equally important is the other direction: taking Filipino talent, creativity, and stories to the world,” Carrasco says.

The significance of the portfolio therefore lies not simply in bringing global names into the Philippine market, but in building the infrastructure through which Filipino creative work can move outward.

Related Read: Edson Cabalfin on His Shift from Fashion to Architecture

From Visibility to Influence

Carrasco’s inclusion is particularly resonant with The BoF 500’s own purpose. The index was created not only to recognize fashion’s most visible personalities, but also those working behind the scenes and outside its conventional boundaries to move the industry forward.

For Carrasco, the recognition also points beyond his own inclusion. “I have always believed that Filipino creativity deserves to be seen alongside the best in the world,” he says.

His place in The BoF 500 marks international recognition of a media landscape built around that conviction. Bringing Filipino creativity into the global spotlight is one step. Building the platforms through which Filipino talent can participate in, and ultimately help shape, that conversation is the larger ambition.

About The BoF 500

Launched by The Business of Fashion in 2013, The BoF 500 is an ongoing index of people shaping the global fashion industry. Curated by BoF editors through nominations, industry intelligence, and research, it spans eight categories: Designers, Executives, Retailers, Entrepreneurs, Creative Class, Media, Models & Muses, and Catalysts. The index now includes 1,713 people representing 104 nationalities. The BoF 500 Class of 2026 adds 100 new members from 33 countries and 48 nationalities.