Accessories have long been a prime Filipino export product. Year-after-year international fashion brands seek out our distinct, creative accessories for their handiwork, craftsmanship and stylish qualities. Until now, however, there has never been a formal design program to support this vital component of the fashion industry. By inaugurating our pioneering Fashion Accessories program, SoFA Design Institute focused attention on this important design field.
SoFA Design Institute recently opened a line of Accessories Design programs of varied lengths – from short courses, to an intensive 1-year program. The program welcomed experienced and aspiring designers alike. At the heart of each semester were two parallel studio courses which were offered simultaneously – one with a concentration on shoes and one with a focus on bags and other accessory pieces. The curriculum was developed as such to enable students to experiment with a broad variety of accessory design perspectives. Students were likewise immersed in courses on drawing, fabrication technology, accessory manufacturing and even marketing to round out the instruction.
The parallel studio courses were taught by reknowned bag designer, Amina Aranaz-Alunan, and established shoe designer, Maco Custodio. Both mentors guided their students in fabricating unique accessory collections based on conceptual frameworks – from finding inspiration, conducting research and immersion, to critiquing and evolving design concepts. Students were walked through a rigorous design process consistent with the Institute’s standards that required them to design and as a final requirement, realize their design proposals into 3D models. These were showcased at the annual SoFA Design Institute Graduation Show last March, 2015.
SoFA Design Institute’s Accessories Design program – Short Courses, Certificate Program, I-Year Program – is open for admissions for school year 2015 – 2016 (June Semester). For inquiries, contact the SoFA Design Institute – Admissions Office (E: [email protected], T: (02) 478 4611 or 22 loc. 150). ADVT
