World-renowned Japanese designer and fashion instructor Shingo Sato, famous for transforming mere fabrics into 3D pieces that combine the aesthetics of couture and architecture, continues to share his system with the most prestigious fashion schools around the globe.

He recently conducted an exclusive three-day Draping and Drafting Workshop at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Manila, after making the rounds of Parsons the New School for Design in New York, Central Saint Martins in London, Instituto Marangoni in Milan, Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, and Paris College of Art in Paris.

Bringing with him over 20 years of professional experience in tailoring, pattern design and dressmaking, Sato spoke before Benilde’s Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) Program educators, practitioners, and selected fashion designers at the college’s School of Design and Arts (SDA) Campus.

The Japanese master, on his first visit to the Philippines, shared his methodology known as Transformational Reconstruction, where he combined drafting or patternmaking, special cutting and sewing techniques to recreate fabrics into geometric figures, drapes, 3D volumes and Japanese origami.

“We are the only school in the country to have Shingo Sato,” FDM chair Christine Benet said. “Gaining knowledge from such mentors will open a new box of pedagogy in garment construction techniques.”

Also present at Sato’s workshop were designer Lulu Tan Gan, wedding gown specialist Vanessa Sih and avant garde designer Kaye Morales.