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An exhibit dedicated to the mother of modern terno
Recently, National Artist Salvacion Lim (Slim) Higgins' creations and archival photographs were put on view at an exhibit at SM Aura Premier.
The dresses displayed were beautiful reproductions of the National Artist's works from 1947, the onset of what was to become an illustrious career, to 1990, the year of her passing.
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Higgins had travelled in Europe and New York and was influenced by the Hollywood glamour of the 50s and 60s, yet the designer came up with her own style while reconstructing the Filipino terno.
Apart from her laudable work ethic, Higgins' eye for complex, architectural, yet flattering designs separated her from her peers.
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Eventually, Slim garnered fame for creating looks that marked an entire era—from ball gowns and hobble skirts to sashes and cartwheel shawls. In 2022, the couturier was proclaimed National Artist.
One of her popular creations, a grey asymmetrical terno which is praised for its complex structure, is included in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England.
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Her son Mark Higgins, who takes after his own mother, recalled her dexterity in making a garment. He shared, "She taught me the more esoteric things. To execute the design, you need to know your vocabulary just as a painter knows what supplies to use and pigments that would work so that when you can pick up a piece of fabric, you can mould and construct it."
Read more: The Life And Times Of Salvacion Lim Higgins
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Today, Higgins' genius is constantly studied and handed down through Slim's Fashion and Arts School, the first fashion school in the country, which was established in 1960.
The school has mentored generations of brilliant visionaries including Cesar Gaupo, Joey Samson, Martin Bautista, Albert Andrada, and Michael Cinco.
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"The designs of Slim are timeless, even though they were [made] way back in the 1950s," notes one of the students of the prestigious school, Frank Jones II, who was seen admiring the creations at the exhibit.
Her most groundbreaking creations were placed at the centre for guests to view details up close. With pieces that are notably timeless, Slim will always be remembered for her legacy, not only in modern Filipino couture but in the entire realm of Philippine fashion.
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Credits
Images: Courtesy of Slim's Fashion and Arts School archive
