F# (F SHARP) was PWC’s BFA-Fashion Design Batch 2017 presentation at the Abreeza Mall. The event showcased the young talents’ artistry backed up by the academy’s training. The show mounted for public viewing and scrutiny was a glimpse into what the future may hold once they embark on their personal journeys.
“Mindanao Music x Fashion Reinvented” was this year’s theme wherein the Mindanao traditional or contemporary music served as the inspiration for the graduating student’s collection.
Rj Hermo came up with a nautical-themed collection entitled “Navigation” inspired by the Sama Bajau love song “Sangbayan”; Hazel Aquino chose “Utom Nadal”, a T’boli song, as her inspiration for her “Infidelidad de Emocion” collection; and Janika Paras’ “Meraki” collection was built upon a Mandaya song, “Canta Para Kanmo”, which sings of undying love.
Dominique Ferolino, who was also the Best in Motion Editorial awardee presented his “Aquilam” (eagle) collection after the Bagobo music for the “Lawin-Lawin” dance.
Popong Landero’s song, “Bahaghari”, was the inspiration for Renee Sinfuego’s “A la mode” collection, which showed pockets and ribbons that symbolize equality and unity in the 18th century. This garnered the designer the Best in Creative Research award.
Awarded as Best in Look Book, Airen Perocho sewed her “Aurora” collection, which trumpets “body positivity”, freedom from society -dictated definition of beauty.
Dally Amandoron rose to the top of her class and was awarded Designer of the Year for her “Les reve Lucide” (Lucid Dream) collection. An excerpt from Maan Chua’s “T’nalak” song, “T’nalak na nagmula sa panaginip, t’nalak na hinabi ng ninuno natin” served as her inspiration.
“Batch 2017 started their creative research last June 2016 conducting key informant interviews, community immersions and field studies before defending their research outputs. Come 2nd trimester, the students began appropriating specific components or ideas from their themes in conceptualizing their collections. At this point, they reviewed related works of designers and artists aligned to the direction their collections are taking. Material thinking and studies came in next before finally producing their prototypes for critiquing and revisions from November to January this year,” said Emi Englis, program chair of Fashion Design at PWC.
Creative Research was paneled earlier this school year by Dr. Jeanne Juanga, UP Mindanao Dean of Architecture; Dr. Genelin Ruth James, UP LIDAR Project; Dr. Vicki Ligan, UM Professional Schools; and Dr. Ariel San Jose, University of Oman.
The final collection was presented last March 25 with a preliminary judging held at Seda Hotel and was followed by a runway presentation at the Activity Center of Abreeza Ayala Mall. British Top Designer 2017 John Herrera chaired the panel of judges composed by Davao Fashion and Design Council’s Dodjie Batu and Edgar Buyan.
During the show, Grade 11 Fashion Strand and BFA-Fashion Design undergraduate students also presented their capsule collections inspired by the 12 award-winning paintings of selected Painting students in the PWC BFA Fine Arts and Interior Design students.
Congratulations to the graduates and may your creativity bring glory to Davao and Mindanao!
Email me at jinggoysalvador@yahoo.com. For more lifestyle & travel stories, visit www.ofapplesandlemons.com & www.jeepneyjinggoy.com