The artists and the barong

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu's leading furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue and ten other internationally acclaimed artists recently collaborated with their common personal friend - the sterling fashion designer Jeanne Goulbourn, to celebrate her eighteen years in the profession.

A lover of the barong, and a dresser of Philippine presidents and global leaders such as former American President Bill Clinton,  she came up with the innovative plan to immortalize their works in the formal national attire that is Filipino in style and sensibility using her signature cloth, under the Silk Cocoon label, made up mainly of silk combined with piña, abaca, hemp and threads - softer, more supple and versatile enough for the painters, sculptors, architects, furniture designer and photographer to explore a gamut of their ideas.

The other artists include National Artists Arturo Luz and Bencab, painter-sculptors Manuel Baldemor, Gabriel Barredo, Impy Pilapil, Claude Tayag and Ramon Diaz, architects-interior designers Lor Calma and Ed Calma, and photographer Wyg Tysman.

Guided by a template of the actual size of the cloth where their designs will be embroidered, everyone sent their sketches, most in black and white, others with some colors. From these inputs Jeanne began to work, minding the shades of the fabric, what stitches and threads to use.

Jeanne gave them the complete freedom to conceptualize the barong of their choice. One readily sees the aesthetic synergy that went into the whole process.

Arturo Luz and Bencab were very much themselves, their signature elements there for all to see. Luz had his linear symmetry while Bencab showcased his muse Sabel.

The excellent grasp of dimension and the playful use of space is evident in the works of Lor and Ed Calma.  Kenneth Cobonpue with his skyfall of little people, deftly used this element as required while at work with the interiors of a house and the scale of the furniture. 

Manuel Baldemor had his rendition of the carabao and sarimanok "lifted" neatly from his canvases. Gabriel Barredo stayed away from his usual avant garde metal works and sketched bamboo trees. Ramon Diaz decided to feature not what his collectors would expect to see.

Impy Pilapil's cosmos and clouds that swirl with interwoven colored lines did find resonance with Claude Tayag's unending dramatic circles as well as Wyg Tysman's spare photographs of a man and woman bordered by hand-stitched frames.

Today the barongs are ready for the roster of discerning and loyal clients of Silk Cocoon. Jeanne emphasized that each new owner will have something that is uniquely crafted for him, for only 10 pieces in 10 color variations will be produced. 

While the customer decides on a particular artist's barong,  he may then choose from any of the following hues: a natural original color, nude or flesh tone, champagne in two shades, Chanti - "rich red wine", Chinese red "ala Valentino", pine green, zinc or light grey, silver grey, charcoal grey and a dramatic black. He is then asked to finalize the style of collar, cuffs and sleeves. 

Once done, the Silk Cocoon informs the artist through a Certificate of Authenticity and a thank-you note for part of the proceeds of the limited edition line of barongs will support the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation, an NGO that Jeanne and her late husband Sidney established after a daughter passed on. The foundation deals with the emotional rehabilitation of people suffering from severe depression and offers support on how to cope with the trauma of losing a loved one or a friend.