In an exclusive interview with MEGA, Jo Ann Bitagcol shared how she paid tribute to our country’s art, culture, and history with her latest collection titled Tao
Four years ago, a collection that fused two mediums of art together was introduced to the local scene. It was the maiden collection of fashion icon, photographer, and visual artist Jo Ann Bitagcol that memorialized vintage pieces as she printed them on scarves. And as she marks her fourth year, another collection comes to life with the idea of characters as the main concept of her designs.
Vintage-made
Titled Tao by Bitagcol, the idea behind the collection is capturing the character of Filipinos with the elements of the culture, humor, and time. The items printed on the textiles are pieces from the vintage collection of Gino Gonzalez, whom she worked closely with for the collection. Done with ease and playfulness, the two fashioned such arrangements to create new contemporary forms. Bitagcol shared, “Gino had a great idea of adding other elements to bring these characters to life—a spoon ladle, hats, and small baskets.”
So how did this curious art come to be? It started with her being inspired by the creatives that surrounded her. She often visits fairs or pop-ups that display a roster of brands that champion local artistry, which made her realize she wanted to be a merchant, too. It wasn’t until a Filipino designer suggested she place her photographs in textile. Jo Ann expressed, “I was able to create something functional with my photos.”
Forms personified
As the vintage pieces continue to take new forms made by Bitagcol and Gonzalez, it was only natural to name each design that resembled Filipino characters such as lola, lola chef, tita, and tita madame. These names hold such representations in our culture, seeing that we would often associate them with such personalities we encounter in real life.
Fluidity in silhouette
Bitgacol’s point of view on silhouettes has always been adaptable to who will be wearing them. The prints are seen on the shirts, baro tops, and robes that are finished in relaxed fashions to highlight the photos of each piece. Wrap and piña dresses are also included, which can be mixed and matched with the designs in the collection.
While these silhouettes seem conventional to some, Jo Ann takes time to contemplate whether or not these should be included in the design. For her, three questions should always be asked before proceeding with a collection: Is it Filipino? Is this contemporary? Are the pieces comfortable?
“If the answers to these questions are yes, then it’s a go.”
Jo Ann Bitagcol
