Cover The indoor courtyard of the National Museum of Natural History transformed into a runway showcasing the designs of SoFa's graduating students (Photo: Julianna Cabili)
The indoor courtyard of the National Museum of Natural History transformed into a runway showcasing the designs of SoFa's graduating students (Photo: Julianna Cabili)
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19 graduates of the SoFa Design Institute illuminated the runway last March 18 with a spectacular presentation of avant-garde pieces
The indoor courtyard of the National Museum of Natural History, where the iconic Tree of Life sits in stately splendour, was transformed into a runway last March 18. 19 graduating students from SoFa Design Institute debuted their brilliant avant-garde creations, proof that Filipino fashion is shifting into a new realm of Filipino fashion design.
The event featured 19 of the Institute’s 2023 graduates from the two-year Fashion Design and Marketing programme and the four-year BA Fashion Design and Marketing programme. Both programmes utilise ‘The SoFa Method’, a “creative self-discovery approach” that allows students to explore unconventional avenues, honing their artistic vision and developing their technical skills.
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Above Two looks by Kamille Ramos
Above A bubble dress by Kyle Reese Capistrano (Photo: Courtesy of SoFa Design Institute)
Two looks by Kamille Ramos
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Prior to the presentation, Amina Aranáz-Alunan, co-founder and president of SoFa, gave her congratulatory remarks, “You are not just presenting garments; you are telling your stories and sharing a snippet of your inner selves. Each piece reflects your unique perspective, cultural influences, and artistic expression.”
The designers delivered their arsenal with full force, visually displaying their ingenuity. Some notable talents included Hannah Tapawan and Kyle Reese Capistrano, whose respective collections comprised ethereal bridal looks featuring billowing cream fabrics and experimental takes on the traditional veil. Capistrano’s designs displayed a range of eye-catching designs, harnessing an aptitude for eccentricity that manifested in a mesmerising black-and-white bubble dress completely covering the model’s face.
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Above A runway look by Kyle Reese Capistrano (Photo: Courtesy of SoFa Design Institute)
Above An ethereal "bridal" ensemble by Hannah Tapawan (Photo: Courtesy of SoFa Design Institute)
A runway look by Kyle Reese Capistrano (Photo: Courtesy of SoFa Design Institute)
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Graduating from SoFa's four-year programme, Gerald Farofaldane represented the batch in his closing remarks: “We found ourselves in the midst of connection, that these stories that we tell as designers bind us as friends and as humans.”
The roster of graduating designers includes Erica Terol, Devilleres, Francis Odoy, Myca Bulanadi, Amaya Severino, Emir Loresto, John Valenzuela, Kayla Flores, Hannah Tapawan, Nicole Phillipe, Stephanie Satorre, Lucia Cadiz, Sana Sadile, Gerald Farofaldane, Elisha Nicole Solamo, Gil Justin Salazar, Kamille Ramos, Kyle Reese Capistrano, and Janelle Hung.
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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
