Loralee Baron-Soong, executive director of Sofa Design Institute, emerges out of what we imagine to be an enormous walk-in closet carrying one, two, 20 things we imagine adding to our shopping list.
She describes them as “a pair of earrings from Nicole Whisenhunt, understated gold bracelets designed by Natalya Lagdameo, and a most interesting bracelet from Michelline Syjuco featuring a handcuff and a bullet.”
Having received training from Instituto Marangoni in Italy, Soong proceeded to work with the most-coveted designer brands and found herself creating an avenue for young artists and designers to further improve their craft. “Right now, I’m loving the work of our Sofa alumni Vania Romoff and Mark Tamayo,” says Soong.
On the perceived shift from corporate to creative in today’s business scene and how young people are now more welcomed to pursuing the arts, Soong remarks, “Creative thought is
actually essential to almost any field.”
Having met and worked with creative Filipinos, Soong stresses that even in the most technical of business dealings, creativity and art must be present. “It’s always important even if you’re working a desk job to find a solution that is creative, something that is out of the box.”
To further bolster this creative drift, Sofa is offering new courses. “We have programs we’re launching this November: a furniture design program with Ivy and Cynthia Almario, Tina Periquet, and Ed Calma, and an accessory design program with Amina Aranaz-Alunan and Maco Custodio.”
that make a difference. “I love the black outline of this white number from Boom Sason,” says Soong.
“I think that’s the best thing about being in the fashion industry is that you get to meet and discover so many new talents and people who love what they do,” says Soong.