Not too long ago, I received an invitation from a good friend to join him for a weekend event on Philippine fashion named Sinulid. Curious to find out what the latest couture on the home front is, I agreed to join him in what I thought was an exhibit.
It took me by surprise when I was ushered into a front-row seat in a crowded hall with a long fashion ramp inside the De La Salle College of St. Benilde Design and Arts Campus.
The show turned out to be the annual culminating event of the graduating Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) students of the school. Thirty-four student designers were featured, showcasing style innovations that bannered the depths of their dreams and subconscious, as shown in the photos on this page.
Sinulid shows the designers’ bold move to display beauty in unconventional and thought-provoking designs, with distinct creativity and individuality deeply rooted in the personal journeys of the young artists. The more than a hundred designs showed a striking balance between symbolism and transformation, encapsulated in various ensembles—from ready-to-wear to contemporary to avant-garde.
Although there were also ultra-modern designs for men, femininity took center stage, as the selections delved into the different facets of womanhood—from the tender and nurturing to the fierce and bold, and everything in between.
Of course, I also noticed some experimental pieces that challenged the audience’s inner mind and societal norms, although fluidity in the non-traditional designs was meant to banner inclusivity and diversity. I personally think some designs were courageous, authentic, and sometimes eccentric, breaking free from the constraints of gender stereotypes, materialism, and perfectionism.
I considered the event a medium for self-expression, self-discovery, and beautiful storytelling using couture as a transformative art form. Every piece manifested an emotional depth in every seam and stitch of the handcrafted and woven tapestries.
Overall, these next-gen designers bannered their unique subconscious and irrational expressions, producing designs that flowed between the worlds of the living and the supernatural in a colorful display of the surreal, the absurd, and the fanciful.
At the end of the show, three outstanding designers were given awards. The most prestigious Emerging Creative Talent Award was bestowed on Gemma Santos, whose collection was thought-provoking, with a vision to explore new concepts and the ability to create a fashion-forward and directional collection.
The Fashion Innovation Award went to Serena San Jose, as her collection provided a new and innovative design that addressed sustainability, while the Brand Concept Award was received by Alessandra Gwyneth Caamic, whose collection showcased a strong narrative of a brand, recognizing the value it holds in the market.
The show was certainly an eye-opener for me as I realized how our next-gen fashion force has skillfully equipped themselves with the creativity and mastery of what makes avant-garde fashion acceptable. I am proud of these thirty-four graduating fashion design students, whose creations are ready to impress the rest of the world, and happy that the De La Salle College of St. Benilde offers the academic program to hone their skills.
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