A million and one threads of creativity
Clothes tell a story. Miranda Priestly had an extensive lecture about “that lumpy blue sweater” in The Devil Wears Prada just to emphasize that behind fashion is a tale of blood, sweat and tears, of private struggles and personal wins, of creativity and commerce.
Following the concept that fashion is storytelling, 34 graduating Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) students of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) showcased recently on the runway of the school’s Design + Arts Campus in Manila their bold, original, even eccentric designs.
The fashion show titled “Sinulid 2025: Threaded Experience” was an extravaganza of talent where femininity and fluidity took center stage. From ready-to-wear to contemporary and avant-garde creations, this year’s Sinulid was a display of a million and one threads.
The overall direction of Sinulid, according to Andrea Ionica Abraham Lim, program chairperson of Benilde FDM department, was primarily student-led, with supervision from the faculty led by Sinulid coordinator and the college’s Textile Design coordinator Diana Jean Katigbak.
The graduating students who participated in the fashion show were Pearle Abella, Abby Acantilado, Dom Aquio, Brianna Balaoro, Hannah Barrera, Alessandra Caamic, Samantha Cabrera, Janelle Chan, Yazmine Calata, Tisha Chavez, Kim Chua, Ira Co, Ivee de los Santos, Ingrid Del Rosario, Patricia Dela Cruz, John Estavillo, Andrea Feliciano, Kyle Gomelet, Genevieve Gutierrez, Ann Hernandez, Micah Lao, Elijah Manghaya, Paulette Navera, Erin Nicolas, Rain Olais, Lance Rubio, Serena San Jose, Clarisse Sanchez, Gemma Santos, Ysavel Soriano, Roselle Sy, Krissie Teruel, Deil Valleand Alexandra Zarate.
Their works are now on display at the school’s Design + Arts campus. The Sinulid exhibit, done in collaboration with the Benilde Center for Campus Art, will run until May 24.
“The first Sinulid was mounted in 2016. Every year, a culminating activity of the graduating batch is held as part of thesubject Fashion Show Management. During the administration of then chairperson Lulu Tan-Gan, she wanted to professionalize the activity, and went beyond the student/faculty facilitation of the event. She forged partnerships with SM Retail and commissioned SAGA Events, headed by Robby Carmona, to manage the fashion show proper,” said Christine Cheryl Benet, former program chair of FDM and former associate dean of Benilde’s School of Environment and Design.
Benet told The STAR, “As a program coordinator then, I worked with the faculty and students to come up with an organic and unique Benildean perspective that will differentiate us from the other fashion shows, thus the Filipino term, Sinulid.”
She added: “Fortunately, the event made a mark in the industry. To the extent that other schools replicated the event name and activities. This led to the school’s decision to apply for Intellectual Property Rights, which was granted last 2020.”
According to the FDM faculty, among the many Sinulid alumni who make their presence felt now in the fashion industry include Ha.Mu, Kelvin Morales, Viña Romero, Khirsten Anabeza, Sandro Dela Pena, Andrea Ionica Abrahan Lim, Princess Tan, Jerome Biadoma, Nicia Siy, Jeremy Sancebuche(Mimiyuuuh) and Vilrick Cruz.
“Our fashion curriculum is a vital part of the school’s identity, shaping creative and forward-thinking individuals who leave a mark on the fashion industry. It’s more than just education, it’s a platform for young designers to explore their potential, tell their stories, and celebrate Filipino creativity,” Lim said.
“For the country’s fashion scene, it’s a game changer because the school produces talented graduates who push boundaries, draw inspiration from our heritage, and bring fresh perspectives that keep the industry thriving and evolving on both local and global stages,” she added.
Katigbak, on the other hand, said, “Contemporary fashion reflects the current cultural experiences of groups of people. In this regard, (our curriculum) acts as a visible media for change. Young designers are in a position to shed light and amplify the shifts in the collective thinking of their generation as they navigate their own self development and coming of age.”
She added: “Benilde FDM is a program that recognizes the complexities of the fashion system. Art, technical skills, and business acumen are equally ingrained in the training. Benildeab designers are taught to be well-rounded fashion professionals.
“Beyond making garments, they present novel concepts in clothing culture backed by research and self-led discovery. This creativity also extends its reach with their thorough knowledge of marketing and being involved in promoting their own creations. After graduation, they are known to be flexible contributors to the fashion industry and in many cases even become cultural leaders and trendsetters.”
With Sinulid, the Fashion Design and Merchandising students of Benilde continue to display the depth of their dreams. Their dreams hold no reservations. *
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