WE know about Filipino fashion design making inroads in Europe, the United States and the Middle East. What’s lesser known—and underserved—is the Indochine corner growing more enamored of Filipino creativity.
In mid-September a group of Pinoy designers showcased their work at the Lao Fashion Week
(LFW) in Vientiane, the style center and capital of Lao PDR and neighbors Myanmar and Cambodia. Albert Andrada led a contingent composed of Renan Jay Pacson, Ched Studio (Ched Dalogaog and Marjo Cruz), Bryan Peralta, Kristine Ordinaryo and Julius Tarog; and Phnom Penh-based Reynier Abello and Don Protasio.
Incidentally, I’ve known Tarog since before he was a designer and has, thus, followed his career trajectory. When we met in the late-1990s, he was then an interior-design student who also worked with fashion director Ogee Atos, who exposed and educated him to the inner workings of the trade.
“My mom used to go to her modista and she would bring me along. I will browse the catalog and would pick what I think looks best for her,” Tarog says, recalling what sparked his interest in fashion. “After studying at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines and with the Paris-trained Jojie Lloren on short courses in pattern making, I had the confidence in pursuing my childhood dream.”
Besides being a designer, Tarog is also the resident stylist at the GMA Network, handling shows such as The Clash, Bubble Gang, Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko, Lip Sync Battle Philippines, All Star Videoke, Party Pilipinas, Sunday All Stars, Superstar Duets, ’Yan Ang Morning, Full House Tonight and Kusina Master.
He styles celebrities for TV like Regine Velazquez-Alcasid, Solenn Heusaff, Jaya, Ogie Alcasid, Mariel Rodriguez, Gabbi Garcia, Sanya Lopez and Rhian Ramos. For Lao Fashion Week, however, Tarog wanted to strengthen his menswear aesthetic, so he showed a 15-piece collection using Japanese cotton, English wool and French cashmere inspired by the 1987 Sting classic song, “Englishman in New York.”
“The man is a traveler. He visited a tropical country and went to New York during the autumn season and brought souvenirs like the banig bags made of buri leaves and just roamed freely in the city,” Tarog explaines. “The accessories I used are custom-made by Lara, a bag maker in Western Samar. I used tote bags, belt bags and a sling bag that are practical for a traveler.” Tarog previously participated in a show in New York showing a collection made of natural woven fabric from Abra province. This caught the attention of Pany Saignavongs, the founder and CEO of LFW who also heads the Ministry Of Silk, which has a strong advocacy in using her country’s indigenous materials such as the Lao Silk.
“Showing your pieces in a foreign land brings Pinoy pride because the collection you’re showing will give our neighbors an idea of what the fashion trends are in our country,” Tarog says. “There may not be a strong Pinoy fashion following in Laos yet, but there’s a very strong respect with regard to the collections we presented.”
Women, admittedly, are the bulk buyers in the fashion market. Even in store space and collection selections, they have more and better choices than men. It doesn’t faze the talented Tarog, though, as he wishes to dress up Ryan Reynolds, Tom Cruise, Gong Yoo and Song Joong-ki someday. More realistically, local celebrities Dennis Trillo, Joshua Garcia, Daniel Padilla and Richard Gomez are likely to be seen in Tarog’s brand of dapper, dashing menswear.
“Filipino men in general are t-shirt wearers because of our tropical weather,” Tarog asserts. “But what I’m doing now is giving them options in cut, color and fit that still work for the weather and the Filipino lifestyle.”
Image credits: PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEAN-CHRISTOPHE ORLY