Cover Artist Nina Poblador spearheaded the tour of the estate and workshop of fashion designer Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of the College of Saint Benilde)
Artist Nina Poblador spearheaded the tour of the estate and workshop of fashion designer Patis Tesoro (Photo: courtesy of the College of Saint Benilde)
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Filipino designer and social activist Patis Tesoro discusses her insights on the current state of the local fashion industry
Fashion designer and social activist Patis Tesoro recently led educators from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) on a tour of her estate-slash-studio in San Pablo, Laguna. Lauded for her efforts in championing the legacy of traditional Filipino garments, Tesoro dedicates her career to preserving and reviving the local piña fabric.
Tesoro’s daughter, artist Nina Poblador, spearheaded the visit by guiding a group comprised of DLS-CSB faculty members Roxoanne Bagano Dizon, Brendon Ellis Bigay, Roxanne Hoey, DK Katigbak, Cecille Lansang, Jontie Martinez, Trina Peñaflorida, Jinggay Serag and Chairperson Ionica Abrahan Lim. These guests had the privilege of exploring Tesoro’s design and production processes, centred on local materials and community involvement.
More from Tatler: Barong Tagalog: The History Of The Traditional Filipino Attire
Above Tesoro also trained her local artisans in hand-painting
Above A Laguna local trained by Patis Tesoro in the art of traditional embroidery
Tesoro also trained her local artisans in hand-painting
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Tesoro prides herself on training the local artisans of Laguna in various facets of traditional artistry, from embroidery and sewing to hand-painting garments. In turn, these artisans are granted employment opportunities at Tesoro’s workshop. The tour showcased Tesoro’s work, including bespoke Filipiniana, custom embroideries, beadworks, and paintings.
During the excursion, Tesoro shared her insights on the state of traditional craftsmanship and its place in the wider scope of the Filipino fashion industry. She also gave her viewpoints on indigenous embroidery in the country amidst the call for mass production through faster and more affordable alternatives.
See also: Behind the Seams: Meet 8 designers redefining the Filipino fashion world
Above Benilde Fashion Design & Merchandising chairperson Ionica Abrahan Lim
Benilde Fashion Design & Merchandising chairperson Ionica Abrahan Lim
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Both Tesoro and her guests emphasised the need to urge Filipino creative industries to hold a steadfast place within the global textile economy, allowing them to move towards an inclusive future. This also brought to light the crucial role of education in bringing awareness to the plight of unsustainable fashion dependent on machinery.
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About
Julianna has been interested in leading a literary life since she first read Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess at eight. Before working with Tatler, she was an archive intern at The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn, New York. She is a textbook Pisces who devotes most of her spare time to her crochet projects, watching classic films, and going through her never-ending pile of unread books. She studied creative writing, global literature and art history at Sarah Lawrence College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2022. Toni Morrison, Nora Ephron, Clarice Lispector and Jia Tolentino are among her all-time favourite writers.
Work
Julianna writes about fashion, beauty, sustainability, and the arts. She is always keen on conducting interviews with talented women who are changing the game in their respective fields.
For event invites and story leads, hit her up at julianna.cabili@tatlerasia.com
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