Benilde’s ‘Sinulid’ exhibit threads designers’ personal journeys

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Benilde’s ‘Sinulid’ exhibit threads designers’ personal journeys

‘The clothes represent a part of me I felt hesitant to share when I was younger,' says Serena San Jose, one of St. Benilde’s fashion and design merchandising graduates currently showcasing their work in an exhibit

MANILA, Philippines – For over a decade, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Fashion and Design Merchandising program has held Sinulid, a fashion event that showcases the graduates’ work.

This year, for the first time, the event, entitled Sinulid: Threaded Experience, goes beyond a fashion show as it also stages an exhibition until May 24.

“The clothes represent a part of me I felt hesitant to share when I was younger,” said Serena San Jose, one of the 34 graduates.

“The fact that these clothes exist now testifies to my growth as an artist, and more importantly, as a proud trans woman. This collection’s existence and the recognition I got for it means that there is space for people like me in the industry.”

The exhibition is open to the public from Mondays to Fridays, from 9 am to 6 pm, and Saturdays by appointment, at the Arts+Design Campus of DLS-CSB along P. Ocampo Street in Manila.

“The process of completing these looks was challenging for me. There were a lot of revisions to the measurements…I also had a lot of sleepless nights just to finish the amount of fabric manipulation needed for the design,” shared design graduate Micah Lao.

“I was nervous about sewing the leather pants because it was expensive, and I couldn’t afford to make a mistake,” Lance Rubio said of his own design experience.

The exhibition was conceptualized by the DLS-CSB Center for Campus Art, headed by Geraldine Araneta, who worked with the exhibition designer Gabby Lichauco, exhibition stylist Michael Salientes, lighting designer Jay Aranda. Thelma San Juan is the catalog’s guest essayist.

Inspirations of the collections ran the gamut, from international designers Alexander McQueen and Rei Kawakubo for Alexandra Zarate, to Viñas DeLuxe’s entrance on Drag Race Philippines Season 1 for Elijah Mananghaya.

The Legend of Mount Mayon, meanwhile, inspired the Gunita ballgown of Tisha Chavez.

“It depicts the river where Daragang Magayon fell and was saved by Panganoron. My painting style is influenced by Claude Monet’s water lily paintings, which helped shape the movement and texture of the design,” she said.

For the designers, it was the stories behind the collections that made the exhibit more personal and important.

“My debut collection is a direct expression of the uninhibited creativity of the gay mind,” said Mananghaya “It’s pure queer creativity straight from the heart. We embrace freedom without reservation, connecting with our audience through a queer perspective.”