WHAT does the Philippine fashion industry need more of to be on a par with fashion capitals like London, Milan, Paris and New York?
“Better training and skills,” says Jesus “Jojie” Lloren, without embellishing the truth.
Jojie didn’t become one of the country’s best fashion practitioners by sheer talent alone. He went to the best learning institutions and had a fashion legend to help him navigate the cutthroat field.
“It was studying clothing technology at the University of the Philippines that gave me the foundation which enabled me to embark on a fashion career. Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne broadened it even more. Christian Espiritu, who I regard as my mentor, polished my aesthetics and opened my eyes to the real world of a fashion business,” he adds.
Over the years, Jojie has served as mentor on Project Runway Philippines, resident designer at Rustan’s for Jill and Luna, and as president of the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines.
Still, the passion to teach and impart his vast knowledge about fashion practices never went away. In October 2017, FAB (Fashion+Art+Business) Creatives Manila was born.
“This has been my longtime dream with my friend, Pidge Reyes, a former consultant to garment manufacturers, dating back to more than a decade ago. The incorporators are Pidge, [Baliuag University President] Pat Lagunda, [Baliuag University Legal Counsel] Susan Jacinto, [Baliuag University Vice President for Finance and Administration] Nina Santos, [De La Salle Pro. and The Little Campus North Bend School President] Alice Orosa, [visual artist] Albert Avellana and myself,” Jojie says.
The courses under the one-year FAB Comprehensive Fashion Program include Creative Process, Creative Sewing, Womenswear Design, Menswear Design, Flat Pattern Drafting, Entrepreneurship 1, Portfolio Making, Making a Fashion Collection and Garment Construction 1-3. The elective courses include Fashion Show Production, Accessory Making, Professional Makeup, Fashion and Product Photography, Visual Merchandising and Fashion Writing.
“When we started, we offered only short workshops. All of the attendees either took just one, two or three workshops. We set up a one-year comprehensive fashion program so that we would have ‘graduates’ who we really can claim are FAB products,” Jojie adds.
Besides the basic technical and creative courses, Jojie added others that he thinks, through his decades of experience, are needed when studying fashion. These are either advanced courses or those not being offered by local fashion schools. Tuition varies according to the length and kind of workshop. Classes for the one-year program are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The workshops are held on the other days of the week, even Sundays. All sessions are three hours long. The workshops are taught in a nontraditional way, where students “benefit from a truy enriching experience as class size is small, allowing for personalization and direct mentoring,” while also “making learning fun and practical, developing individual creativity and productivity among all students.”
Selecting the instructors for the fashion programs was quite easy, as Jojie tapped his colleagues and friends who are as generous, energized and zealous as he is when it comes to sharing their industry “secrets” for survival, success and longevity.
“I chose the mentors based on their track records, being top figures in their respective fields. More important, it is their willingness, readiness, and availability to share their knowledge and experience,” he explains.
Among the industry experts are designers Lesley Mobo, Ivarluski Aseron, Vic Barba, Rhett Eala, Mich Dulce, Dennis Lustico, Joey Samson, Cherry Veric, Gian Romano and Inno Sotto; photographers Jo Ann Bitagcol, Sara Black and Jun de Leon; model-accessories designer Tweetie de Leon; fashion directors Ariel Lozada, Robbie Carmona and Jackie Aquino; stylist Noel Manapat; journalist Cheche Moral; and makeup artist Patrick Rosas.
Why do you think there’s a need to establish a fashion school in the country?
“Well, there’s always room for another learning venue. FAB offers mentorship in a full class of eight students only, and with its comprehensive programs, students can realize an earlier return of their investment on education,” Jojie says.
What’s the significance of having a separate course for terno sleeves-making?
“The modern Filipino dress is identifiable only by its sleeves. It is very important that this iconic detail is done the right way,” Jojie explains.
Issues about cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation, ethics, copyrights, retagging, piracy of workers, proper pricing, as well as the #MeToo movement in the fashion world, with designers and photographers being held accountable for sexual misbehavior against models are raging.
“Our mentors, being top professionals, would be able to instill in the students [how to address] these issues,” Jojie assures.
FAB aims to foster an atmosphere of creativity and diligence by providing “a venue for anyone who wants to get into the fashion industry. Our workshops can hone each individual’s inherent talent and skills, and instill them with utmost discipline and dedication. And because of this type of training and tutelage, the students will be equipped with the competencies and professionalism necessary to embark on an inspired fashion career.”
As a way of giving back to a profession that has been kind to them, Jojie and FAB are offering scholarships.
“Since we started, a lot of inquirers were deterred from enrolling for the reason that the fee is beyond their financial capacity. We thought that among them, there might be some very talented individuals who we can support to enable them to fulfill their dream of a successful fashion career,” he says.
The applicant must be 18 years old or above, must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines and at least a high-school graduate: “We would like to accommodate deserving individuals as much as we can. We are offering a one-year full scholarship and this program is being supported by the friends of FAB.” You have a Fashion Writing course, but do you also teach students how to respond to critiques and criticisms? And how to deal with the media?
“The mentors would share their personal experiences to let them know these are part and parcel of this industry,” Jojie says.
How is FAB a better alternative than studying abroad at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, or Parsons in Paris and the like?
“I have always believed in the Filipinos’ capabilities and talent.”
Interested individuals can e-mail their inquiries to fabcreativesmanila@gmail.com.