The Cebuano designer’s eco-sustainable piece “Empty Nest” is a reflection of his complex relationship with his father, as he prepares to showcase his work at the Triathlon de la Mode Éthique in Paris
Passion, perseverance, and parenthood—These are the ones that describe Jann Bungcaras’ parure, also known as, a set of accessories. From his beginnings in Cebu, the Filipino designer has made his pasture to the world of eco-sustainable fashion, culminating in his participation in the Triathlon de la Mode Éthique in Paris. His project—birthed by triumphs, challenges, and reflections—showcases the intersection of art, sustainability, and personal growth, one that includes his father.
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A Cebuano Dream in Paris
The Triathlon de la Mode Éthique promotes creative sustainability. Initiated by Universal Love, an NGO tackling textile waste in Europe, the competition calls upon fashion students to create wearable artworks from discarded sports materials. Bungcaras was selected to represent the Philippines through the Redress Design Awards, where he previously won the People’s Choice Award in 2020.
Bungcaras’ participation wasn’t just a matter of selection of what he would show, as it had to be something personal. The designer reflects, “The longest part of my journey was the conceptualization process, determining what I would create that would resonate not just with me but with my viewers as well.”
Being one of the 11 non-Parisians in the finale was both an honor and a challenge for Bungcaras. Despite initial feelings of imposter syndrome and indifference from his family, he remained determined.
“When the confirmation email came in, I immediately cried. Paris has always been my dream,” he shares. The road to this moment was fraught with obstacles, from self-doubt to a lack of clear communication from event organizers. Yet, Bungcaras’ resilience shone through.
A Special Connection
Bungcaras’ creation for the competition, Empty Nest, is a play of words between “empty nest”—a state of a home when the children grow up and leave—and “emptiness”—not containing anything.
It is also a poignant reflection of his relationship with his father.
The parure features a father bird caring for his son, capturing the complexities of their relationship and the journey of growing up and leaving the nest. Made from his father’s damaged basketball jersey and his own stained active shirt, the piece symbolizes their opposite connections through art: damaged for masculinity, stained for femininity. “Growing up, my father and I never saw eye to eye. But I always knew my talent for the arts came from him,” Bungcaras explains.
Bungcaras grew up in a home where he and his father seemed worlds apart. His father, a professional basketball player, epitomized the traditional “manly-man” image, while Bungcaras, the introverted and artistic first-born son, often felt like a misfit. Their relationship was strained, with Bungcaras sensing his father’s unspoken wish that he were more alike.
This feeling of not fitting in led him to retreat to the safety of his room, avoiding situations where their differences were glaringly obvious. Yet, despite their disconnection, Bungcaras recognized that his artistic talents were inherited from his father, who had an innate knack for design. His father designed their house and landscaped their garden with skill and creativity and no formal training.
The turning point in their relationship came during Bungcaras’ high school years when he created a life-size horse sculpture. To his surprise, his father acknowledged his talent, remarking that his son had surpassed him in artistry. This moment, imprinted in Bungcaras’ memory with vivid detail, was the first time he felt truly seen by his father, a rare connection that beat their differences and acknowledged Bungcaras’ identity.
“More than anything, I just want my family to be proud of me, the same as how much they were proud of me when I became Valedictorian. The moment I chose art as a career path, it seemed impossible.”
Learning and Growing
Over the last year leading up to the Triathlon de la Mode Éthique finale, which was made to align with the Paris 2024 Olympics, Bungcaras faced numerous challenges but also experienced significant growth. “I learned to have self-respect as a participating artist and to demand more information.”
“I also learned to not be discouraged immediately and to open up more to my family,” he says. These lessons have not only shaped his approach to fashion through his advocacy for eco-sustainable practices but also strengthened his resolve to be more himself towards the people who love him.
Flying for the Future
Bungcaras’ participation in the Triathlon de la Mode Éthique brings out more than personal achievement; it comes with inspiring others. He hopes to encourage new and veteran artists to adopt eco-sustainable and circular fashion.
“If I can make art from damaged basketball jerseys and active shirts, then the possibilities are boundless,” he asserts. His vision is for fashion to be part of the solution to pollution caused by fast fashion and consumerism.
As Bungcaras prepares to present his work in Paris, his excitement becomes infectious. “I am excited to tell my story and to share how we can revive damaged pieces into other forms of art and function. I hope my participation will open doors to more genuine Filipino eco-sustainable and circular artists.”
From Cebu to Paris, Jann Bungcaras reinforces the value of sustainability in fashion and the promise of art. He preserves with him the individual relationship between the sustained act of family, support, and belonging. Despite their differences, the designer looks up to his father, like a bird aiming to reach as high. Maybe the nest isn’t empty; it’s only flying.
Photographed by ALYSSA UY
Creative Logistics by GERMEE RONIROSE
Model MACIEJ GORĄCZNIAK of NEW MONRAQ MANILA
