THUMBS UP FOR SAFAD DESIGNS
Nothing is impossible not even in the world of fashion.
It was proved further by the collections created by the 19 graduates of the University of San Carlos’ School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Design (Safad) - Fashion Design Program last March 18 at its sixth graduation fashion show called “Transcendence” held at Santa Maria Ballroom, Radisson Blu Cebu.
“The variety of their research spans from fabric design, creating interpretations of narratives and embellishment by reconstructing patterns, techniques and figures or even by utilizing recycled materials,” said Dr. Mary Felma Aliño, program coordinator for the Fashion Design Program of USC-Safad. “These students are not just sticking to the conventional way of design, they’re thinking outside the box and that’s what research in fashion design is all about.
It is about transcendence, going beyond the ordinary and not limiting one’s self to the constraints of rules and existing knowledge.”
Of the 19, it was Cris Diane Ty who received the gold award for Best in Thesis for her graduation thesis: A Mushroom Lamellae-inspired Electric Pleating Technique as Embellishment For A Formal Wear Collection. “I got this as my inspiration because of its natural flow and its characteristics. The form of the mushroom was achieved through pleating and fabric manipulation,” said Diane. “The pieces or the garments were hand pleated; the design structure of the collection was based in different kinds of formal wear silhouettes. The garments are made with different direction in pleating, gradient, monotone and fabric manipulation.”
Other awardees included Rumiko Zeina Oraya (Nature-Inspired Fractal Patterns As An Embellishment For An Evening Wear Collection) who got the silver award for Best in Thesis, followed by bronze awardees Niño Benito (The Utilization Of Melted Drinking Straws As Embellishment For Koi Painted Resort Wear Collection) and Jan Nicole C. Tiong (The Utilization of Curtain Blinds as Scaling for A Dragon Scale Armor-inspired Demi Couture Collection); as well as the Environmental Revolution awardee Hannah Laye H. Noel (The Utilization of Recycled Polyester Waddings to Portray Serena Garcia’s Sculptural Textile Art In An Avant-Garde Collection).
Other highlights that night included the official launch of Facet (Fashion Association of Cebu’s Elite Talents) with Celine Borromeo as president. Facet is an organization that serves as a platform for the advancement of USC’s Fashion Design graduates and is geared toward facilitating exhibits, seminars and such in the hope of leading up to the development of Cebu Fashion Week.
It has already been established that fashion knows no bounds as seen in the many creations on and off the runway year after year, and promising talents emerge and continue to push the envelope as far as their imaginations can take them leaving no room for restraint.