The aviary: Master work of a master

CEBU, Philippines — Master couturier Cary Santiago holds an exhibit that’s currently ongoing at the Mountain Wing Atrium of SM Seaside City. Titled “The Aviary: The Work of a Master,” the exhibit highlights pieces that are part of the designer’s “Aviary” collection, unveiled last year, and inspired by the form and silhouettes of birds; tapered to form by intricate fabric manipulation techniques.

First presented in Cebu in the WORLD CLASS fashion presentation in October last year, the featured pieces highlight the intricacies involved in a Cary Santiago design – the designer’s masterful applications of the principles of shirring, ruching and pleating (types of fabric manipulation techniques).

The exhibit also draws attention to Santiago’s approach to the Italian ‘trapunto’ technique, as well as implementations of fabric voluming methods that are traditionally associated with smocking.

Punctuated by pieces that are imbued with sculpted tonal values, the exhibit also highlights the now readily recognizable “Phoenix Gown” worn by Binibining Pilipinas Gazini Ganados in the pageant’s coronation night this year, along with pieces that were showcased in last November’s well-attended TernoCon2018 in Manila.

Collectively, “The Aviary: The Work of a Master” underlines Santiago’s tenor as a designer. The exhibit runs until August 22.