The future of Philippine fashion Meet the first batch of Face-Off designers from SoFA Design Institute | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

PIÑA-COTTON hand-knitted skull bolero

INQUIRER Lifestyle’s To Be You (2BU) youth section regularly features up-and-coming talents in fashion.

A recent 2BU event showcased four fashion and design schools in the metro. Held at the SM Mega Fashion Hall, it gave a glimpse of the future of Philippine fashion.

Here is one of the rising names from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA) Design Institute.

Tipay Caintic

Tipay is a 2012 SoFA Fashion Design graduate.

PIÑA-COTTON hand-knitted skull bolero
PIÑA-COTTON hand-knitted skull bolero

Her pieces are from her “Sweet Treachery” collection, inspired by a summer she spent in the south of Italy. It was there where Tipay had an opportunity to visit an underground graveyard that contained skulls and love letters.

She says working on knits was encouraging. Instead of wool, she used pineapple fiber—which has a comfortable feel and is readily available in the Philippines.

Joining 2BU Face-Off has likewise been a learning experience for Tipay. She appreciates the precision that goes into the mixing of music, lights and the models’ tempo on the catwalk.

She gets a thrill seeing the audience’s reaction to her work.

In the next five years, she wants to establish a women’s ready-to-wear brand that would go international. She also dreams of launching an accessories line, a shoe line and a menswear brand.

SPIKES & Skulls jacket, 100-percent handmade, cotton
SPIKES & Skulls jacket, 100-percent handmade, cotton
BALLSY dress made from piña-cotton; black sandals, Forever 21
BALLSY dress made from piña-cotton; black sandals, Forever 21

Photography Maika Anthoni
Styling Luis Carlo San Juan and Krista Rodriguez
Makeup and hairstyle Syd Helmsley and Miko Dacanay
Models Hannah Locsin of PMAP and Alaiza Malinao of Mercator Model Management

Visit us on Instagram InquirerToBeYou;  Facebook: 2bU; e-mail [email protected]

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