Threading together the unique experiences of 34 graduating Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) students, the featured collection is a testament to their creativity and determination. Officially opening on Feb. 4 at the Design+Arts (D+A) Campus’ 12th Floor Gallery, the exhibit welcomed guests to explore the creative journeys of these Benildean designers.
“Each piece tells a unique story, one that reflects their personal experiences, the trends that they see, inclusivity, diversity, and innovation [...] Benilde’s FDM program has always focused on finding the balance between creativity and structure,” Benilde President Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC stated in his opening statement for the event.
Weaving together experiences
Highlighting the individual designer’s “threaded experience,” each piece was handpicked from the collection they had previously presented during the runway show, held at the D+A Campus’ cafeteria on Jan. 25. Alessandra Caamic, an ID120 FDM student and designer of the collection “Balud,” shared her personal highlights with her SINULID experience.
“It was actually amazing, especially to my co-designers who debuted as designers. I'm happy for all of us,” she shared. When asked about how she felt that her work was now officially on display, she expressed her own excitement for the opportunity. “It's an opportunity for all of us to showcase what we've worked hard for, [...] and a lot of people saw it, it's kind of heartwarming for us,” Caamic ended.
The exhibit not only highlights the individual journey of these designers but also the collaborative effort it took to bring it to life. In an interview with The Benildean, Ms. Dindin Araneta, the CCA’s new director, detailed the processes behind the exhibit’s curation.
“It was very collaborative because I worked with Michael (Salientes), Ria (de Borja), Gabriel (Lichauco), and Jay (Aranda). Then of course inputs from the faculty and the students. [...] We came in and shaped it into an exhibition,” she shared.
Beyond the seams
SINULID: Threaded Experience ultimately celebrates the journey that each designer took in shaping and defining who they are as creatives, as highlighted by Ms. Ionica Abrahan Lim, FDM program chairperson.
“What makes this year's collection so special is how boldly our students have embraced their voices. They have been authentic, unapologetic, and fearless in their designs, pushing boundaries to create work that truly represents who they are.”
She added how "Fashion, as we always say, is a storytelling about making a statement and about daring to be seen, and that's exactly what you'll witness in this exhibition.”
Similarly, Mr. Salientes, a fashion stylist and one of the creative consultants for the exhibition, shared his thoughts on how the pieces showcased in the exhibit embody the theme set for SINULID, “I think the work speaks for the theme, and I think it's very powerful. A lot of people use different materials, and other interesting fabrics that they normally don't use. [...] I just hope people see that there's so much talent here in this country, young people with their new ideas.”
When asked how he hopes the collection would impact visitors of the exhibit, he shared, “I hope they get inspired to join the program or at least experiment and keep experimenting and keep doing creative designs, creative things. I hope it will inspire them to do that.”
Experience “SINULID: Threaded Experience” for yourself at the 12th Floor Gallery at Benilde’s D+A Campus. The exhibit is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., every Monday to Saturday until May 24. Catch any other exciting news on upcoming exhibits and events by following the CCA’s Instagram and Facebook pages.