Given the elegant aesthetic and the delicate quality of Francis Sollano’s wearable art, it’s hard to believe that his pieces were fashioned out of garbage sourced from the most popular establishments in his native Cebu.
SM Department Store’s signature blue plastic bags were hand-shredded and ironed by Sollano himself to create the fragile-looking, lacy material used in his daring Chloe-inspired dress. Using the same technique on black garbage bags from Body and Sole Spa yielded a fringe effect perfect for a flowing dress, earrings and neckpiece.
Maximizing plastic’s pliable nature, the designer reworked clear plastic bottles from Handuraw Café into personal adornments for his Mia collection, as well as a cluster of “flowers” for his head-hugging Dani hat.
Wrapper-trinkets
“It was never a difficult decision to choose trash as material,” says Sollano, who describes his craft as “trashion.”
“It is painful to see garbage littered all over our cities, much worse to see Filipinos throw their garbage on the streets as if our country were a huge trash bin. I wish to reignite a culture that truthfully values our environment and to take responsibility over our garbage. It would be a very beautiful country to live in with products that speak the language of the earth,” he points out.
Now 27, Sollano traces his inclination to “trashion” to his childhood; he used to turn candy wrappers into trinkets.
He pursued “trashion” seriously two years ago, with his involvement with Youth for a Livable Cebu (YLC), a group that promotes sustainability and eco-friendly practices like upcycling.
Like all new ventures, trashion comes with its perks and challenges. Materials are abundant, of course, and establishments need little convincing to turn over their trash to the designer.
“When I presented the idea to them, they immediately thought of a particular trash relative to the nature of their business,” explains Sollano, who also uses scrap fabrics from Jeca Garments. “Since it was garbage out on their side and a material source on mine, it was a win-win deal for both.”
Suppliers are thanked and credited during his exhibits, shows, and interviews.
Repurposing plastic bags and bottles constantly pushes Sollano out of his creative comfort zone. “When a material is handed to me, I wouldn’t know at first what to do with it,” he admits. While working with denim, linen and silk (his pre-“trashion” fabrics of choice) is second nature to the designer, commercial throwaways undergo constant manipulation and experimentation in his hands until he feels a “kick” that signals he has stumbled upon the right technique.
Exercise in patience
Assembling an outfit is another story, an exercise in patience and technical know-how. Sollano, who taps a team of students headed by Karylle Godoy to assist him in their spare time, creates his unique pieces according to a client’s measurements. The blue Chloe dress, a collaboration between Sollano and Christine Mendez, was worn with hidden locks. Succeeding versions now come with a base fabric made out of tulle and alfagina he sourced from ukay-ukay.
As to how these clothes are cared for, “I’m working on that,” says Sollano. Following the first “trashion” show in Manila last February, an exhibit will include “care notes” on maintenance.
Despite what sounds like a hit-and-miss process, “trashion” has not affected Sollano’s goal to produce luxurious apparel and accessories for his muse, “a lady walking with grace amid the challenge of wearing six-inch high heels,” he says.
“Also, since the materials are commercial throwaways, it’s difficult to standardize material specs. But that,” he sums up, “is the beauty of imperfection.”
Impeccable style
At home in Cebu, where he was born and raised, Francis Adam Sollano first developed a love for fashion. He remembers his mother’s impeccable sense of style, as well as his lola’s pairs
of embellished bakya, which he and his sister would play with during siesta hour.
He would pursue a degree in Business Management at University of the Philippines in Cebu, and a career in public relations.
Based in Singapore in 2010, he trained in a brand management agency and traveled all over Southeast Asia.
Back in the Philippines, he opened his own PR firm, and served as the head of marketing communications of fellow Cebuano Kenneth Cobonpue’s furniture studio, Hive. Sollano has since left Hive and does PR only on the side to focus on “trashion.”
Sollano staged a show in Cebu last March for Women’s Month, an exhibit of table pieces and wall installations made of clear plastic bottles.
He’s also eager to expand his “trashion.” While his pieces are worn by beauty queens and models, Sollano will start a men’s line, beginning with accessories much like the ones he wears: bracelets made out of scrap metal wires and scrap fabrics.
“Know where your heart lies every moment you wake up,” says his mentor, designer Dita Sandico Ong. “Dig into your roots, so if you face difficulties, you’ll have to revisit them and check if they are well-aligned.”
Great outdoors
Not surprisingly, a genuine love for the environment is in this “trashion” designer’s roots. He enjoys traveling and spending time in the great outdoors.
“These activities humble me on a lot of levels,” he says. “There are many things I have to learn, and there are great things made by our Creator that we have to celebrate.”
PHOTOS BY FAYE PONCE AND ROLF PAGLINAWAN