The designers find inspiration in the flora and fauna—glamour in its untouched, natural state.
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Glamour, by definition, is anchored on irresistible, inexplicable appeal. Before you know it, you are lured into a world where you are spending your days asking what makes something glamorous.
For the first day of the BYS Fashion Week, Jaz Cerezo and Cheetah Rivera tackled glamour in juxtaposing yet complementary techniques in their collections. Both touched the ways in which we can embody what it means to be alluring in a world where everything seems to now have answers.
Glamour in a slithering state
In an exclusive interview with MEGA, Jaz Cerezo shared that her take on this theme was inspired by a recent trip to the Vatican.
“I gazed upon Michaelangelo’s masterpiece at the Sistine Chapel. It was the painting The Original Sin and The Expulsion from Paradise that ignited my creativity,” she shared. The said painting was Michaelangelo’s interpretation on the biblical story of temptation between Adam, Eve, and the serpent.
From one artist to another, Cerezo channeled this retold story by presenting scale-like fabrics with cuts—a seeming symbolism that while there is a charm from what is on the outside, there is something more within. The strong animal prints were softened by the bubble sleeves and loose hanging on the models, with structure still in the picture through cinched waists and a shoulder-padded glittering number.
Indeed, there are many ways to entice a spectator. But what the designer successfully achieved with this collection is offering pieces that tempt you to don them differently each time.
“The ultimate goal is for these clothes to remain in your closet and wear them and serve their purpose for as long as they can,” Cerezo pointed out.
Glamour in a blooming state
While the designs of Jaz Cerezo took us into the wild, Cheetah Rivera’s “The Dance of the Butterflies” put us into a luring, dreamlike state, whose Holiday 2022 collection was based on the illustrations of Cicely Mary Barker of the same name.
The spirit of our country’s animism lives on the myths shared by stories passed down from one generation to another. Living out this tradition, Rivera worked with a painter from Biñan, Laguna, and sourced materials from Abra—two of many places where the stories of our ancestors have thrived.
Following this state of dreaming, Rivera purveyed a journey back to childhood where innocence and wonder were enough for us to survive. She elaborated, “It is a collection full of optimism and hope, [giving you something] enchanting and magical. That simple happiness that can always be found just around the corner.”
Brimming with bubble hemlines and pastel, with occasional contrasting colors showcasing accents of flowers and leaves, the creations ushered a trip to the garden of lightness and delicacy. The graceful aura of the designs through their silhouettes that resembled flowers in different stages were commendable. While most of the pieces were flowy as described, Cheetah delivered body-hugging pieces as well.
With an actualized collection of a bright state of mind, Rivera envisions a hopeful path for young designers. “It matters to support local artists and celebrate people in our fashion industry. Designing is more complicated than what other people think—it’s a calling. To aspiring designers, isa lang ang maipapayo ko: ang pinakamalaking kalaban ay ang inyong sarili.”
PHOTOGRAPHY Kieran Punay
