Sinulid, the highly successful annual culminating showcase of the Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, has once again unveiled promising designers to shake up the fashion scene.
From style innovators who delve into unchartered creative processes to budding artists who weave experiences and emotions into modish ensembles, stylist Andre Chang, with FDM Chairperson Olivia Lopez and mentors Diana Katigbak, Nela San Jose, Jinggay Serag, Nicole Luna and Ionica Abrahan Lim were the discerning jury who recognized these rookie designers as future scene stealers.
Here are the six trailblazers with an overwhelming wealth of skill and craftsmanship with their debut collections that promise a bright future for fashion:
1. Nica Rosecill Alvarez
Surface Design Award – Adapt
She exemplified new perspectives on established procedures and created a distinctive, technical, and visual exploration of the textile process. In Adapt, she proposed a sustainable and long-term answer to one of the most common challenges of parents: children quickly growing out of their clothes. Designed out of microfiber, cotton, stretch linen and soft twill, each piece features intricate hand pleating and gathering techniques that allow the garment to adjust its length and size to fit children through the years.
2. Fritz Maui Vilrick Cruz
Fashion Innovation Award – Masqued
He challenged the possibilities of texture and form to evoke the essence of metamorphosis and dauntless beauty in his capstone series Masqued. The visionary played around the exquisite combination of genuine and veg tan tooling leather, aluminum metal, and lustrous fabrics such as taffeta and Lycra Lamé. He likewise explored manipulation techniques such as molding, sculpting and leather and metal fabrication – to make all hard surfaces seem fluid.
3. Ziv Rei Alexi Damian
Design Concept Award – Sigaw na Pabulong
He embodied one’s desire for independence in Sigaw na Pabulong. The artist utilized the elegant union of Mikado silk, Duchess satin, Gazar, Japanese Cotton and gems to give shape to the emotions derived from being suspended in a state of stagnation, the loss of ability to follow the subconscious and the cry for freedom from external influences.
4. Clio De Leon
Brand Concept Award – Facets
She had a knack to conceptualize creative designs and thus, establish a strong brand narrative. Motivated by an interesting fusion of inspirations and perspectives, her Facets collection is a tale of exciting adventures and life detours told through intricate quilting, beadwork, applique and hand-painting.
5. Xandro Miguel Antonio Guyjoco
Digital Portfolio Award – Buffoonery
He demonstrated a fresh outlook in curating a fashion designer’s creative point of view and processes. A study on the passion and purpose of the Self, Buffoonery features old denims upcycled with patchworks, paintings and stuffing to depict the maker’s love for the art.
6. Maria Louise Rongavilla
Emerging Creative Talent – The Great Escape
She explored innovative concepts to make way for thought-provoking, fashion-forward and directional ensembles. The Great Escape took inspiration from the 1930 piece Liebesleid (Love’s Sorrow) by notable violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler. The overwhelming transition of sentiments and explorations in one’s journey of breaking free are evident in the series’ interesting blend of color and texture made of printed Japanese cotton, twill, tweed, friendship bracelets, beads and yarns.
