Pink reminiscence

Thursday, October 6, 2011

PINK usually connotes femininity—dainty, soft and delicate. And Pink October signifies the Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

It may be common knowledge but let us have a medical check all the same.

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Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that has developed from tissues within the breast.

And it may be reasonable to fear this disease since it is the leading cancer type and cause of cancer deaths among Filipino women, though there are rare cases for men, too.

Contrary to that, designer Hans Coquilla seemed to deem the pink idea with a pretty different point of view.

He wants to bear out that Pink October is “about being brave and courageous,” rather than being fearful, He did this through his celebratory collection of clothes.

He was so inspired to create the collection but he did not want to take it too literally. And so he “chose to be emotional and nostalgic” as he remembered the duyan (cradle, hammock) his mother used to make for him. He described it as “a makeshift cradle made of a blanket suspended through the beams on the ceiling, using ropes” where he lay a sleep while she sang him a lullaby.

As he looked back, he was so amazed at how the blankets were tied to a point that created random pleats and drapes, looking so delicate and graceful. He took that as the perfect Muse for his next creations.

So as not to be literal—the way he had always planned the designs to be—he veered away from using the color pink and that decision was meant to surprise us. Instead, he picked stretch cotton shirting material in oatmeal shade (kind of stimulating the appetite!), which is perfect for pleating and draping. Each piece in the collection proves to be a stand-out in its own, with the unique silhouette, treatment and construction. Hans finished the look with cotton candy pink bandanna and hair accessories and “of course, with the pink lipstick and nail polish” to pay homage to Pink October.

Incorporating his inspiration, talent and skill, he was able to come up with a collection that was “avant-garde and high fashion at the same time,” as he puts it, so that only the brave and courageous women can wear them. And he means to be brave enough to dare be different and courageous enough to venture far from the ordinary.

For Hans, Pink October lauds women who bravely fought and survived breast cancer; women who are courageously inspiring and raising awareness by educating other people. For him, it has the advocacy that everybody should spread, regardless of status in the society. And this is his way of sharing—provoking the Pink Reminiscence.