Last February, three lucky designers from the Philippines completed a five-day customized short course on accessories design at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) in the United Kingdom. They had all excelled in the Look of Style Awards 2013, a competition launched by the British Council in partnership with Inquirer Lifestyle and Look magazine.
Scholarships were awarded to Ronald Ramiro, Angela Angeles, Adante Leyesa and Earl Gariando, finalists in Accessories Design, a new category of the Look of Style Awards and a nod to the growing importance of accessories in sartorial expression. The overall category winner was 24-year-old Neil Suarez San Pedro (“Neil Felipp”), who flew to the UK on an all-expense-paid trip.
Upon arrival at SHU, the designers were given a tour of the university by directorate of international development Rita Hwang and international marketing manager Louise Williams. They were also introduced to their mentors for the week: Grace Horne, who creates limited-edition collector’s knives under her brand; Nabil Nayal, a fashion designer whose aesthetics are surreal and ethereal; and Jeff Ber, a metal craftsman.
A topic covered in the course was the importance of understanding and forecasting fashion trends, which the young designers found informative and insightful. They were tasked with identifying and incorporating their design aesthetic into an upcoming trend. Horne and Ber helped the designers in creating mockups of their pieces through metal craftsmanship, also utilizing the university’s advanced machinery and jewelry techniques.
Neil chose the trend of using bones, as he wanted to focus on how the material represented history, as opposed to its common perception of being morbid and dark. His final product was a back accessory made of textured copper with an oxidized finish. The front of the product featured a classic and polished look, while the back represented a striking statement piece.
In addition to the course and university experience, the designers developed a fondness for Sheffield, which they saw as a charming city blending classic craftsmanship with modern design.
